Five Frugal Things | I killed weeds with water!
1. I poured boiling water on driveway weeds
After I mowed my yard the other day, I got motivated to pull some curb and driveway weeds. But some of them are so tightly wedged in the asphalt, it is extremely difficult to pull them out.
I could use weed killer on them, of course, but that is not very kind to the earth, and also, I'd have to pay for weed killer.
So, I heated up some water in my trusty electric kettle, and slowly poured it over the weeds.
At first they turned bright green, like lightly sauteed spinach.
But after about 24 hours, they started to get nice and brown.
And they are well and truly dead now.
2. I sold my NCLEX prep book
Obviously, I have no use for this anymore, since, you know (casually flips hair) I ALREADY PASSED MY NCLEX.
Hehe.
I listed it on eBay for $33 and it sold in less than an hour, which is crazy.
I packaged it in reused packing materials, printed the label on my ink-saving printer, and dropped it off at my post office.
And hopefully someone out there will be on their way to passing the NCLEX soon too. 🙂
3. I microwaved my Parmesan ends to make crisps
I saw this tip somewhere on the internet and it actually works!
I know you can also use Parmesan ends in soups, but let's be real, it is not soup weather in the northern hemisphere right now.
Basically, you just slice the ends very thin and then microwave for about 30 seconds.
I have found that this works best if you do a thin, even slice. And you have to remove the crisp from the plate before it is fully cooled; otherwise, it will just shatter.
I don't know if these would keep very long in humid weather, but I just ate mine promptly. 😉
4. I modified the sleeves of a work shirt
On my unit, we are allowed to wear some t-shirts, like the ones my hospital orders for Nurse's Week. I got one a little while back and I have never loved it because the sleeves are quite obviously designed for someone with biceps about 3x as large as mine.
And since the fabric is a thick cotton, the sleeves always stick out at a weird angle.
So, I laid the shirt, inside out, over a t-shirt that does fit properly.
I sewed the sleeves at an angle that matched the other t-shirt, cut the excess fabric, and now the sleeves fit me better.
It is a slight change, probably only noticeable to me, but this little change makes me more prone to actually use my t-shirt.
In case you were wondering YES CHIQUITA WAS THERE. 😉
I could also change the shape of the torso of this shirt to be a little more fitted, but I haven't decided yet if I want to bother. The torso isn't bothering me nearly as much as the sleeves were!
5. I have been using my dehumidifier water
This is a VERY tiny one, but here you go:
My landlords have a dehumidifier here that runs almost constantly in the basement during the summer months.
It produces quite a bit of water, and instead of dumping it down the drain, I have been using it, plus a scrub brush, to do little bits of cleaning outside.
I know dehumidifier water is not safe to use for drinking or for watering edible plants, but it works just fine for cleaning things like dirty outdoor stair risers. 😉
Also, this is helping me to get the outside of my house cleaned up, one bit at a time.
I'm really impressed with your sleeve modification! That seems so clever. I wouldn't have thought of that, but it was such a simple fix!
My FFT:
1. I signed up for Speedway's Speedy Rewards. I need to take my daughter to vision therapy once a week 50 minutes away and I've learned that the drive is brutal - not in a busy traffic way, but in that it's the middle of the afternoon and it's just a long straight road forever. I need something to drink while I drive and there's a Speedway on the right-hand side of the road on my way out. I signed up for their rewards which gives better prices and should give me free drinks fairly often, plus I got enough bonus points at sign-up that I've gotten 3 free drinks so far. (One was the other day when I wanted coffee but my family had just redeemed my free Sip Club drink.)
2. I'm back to cooking meals from scratch again. There was about two weeks in the moving process where food was hard to put time into and I got a lot of convenience foods to get us by, but this weekend I finally started cooking again. Much cheaper!
3. I cancelled the kennel for our upcoming camping trip now that my in-laws live here and are willing to watch my dog. Savings around $200.
4. My brother works for a place that gets shipments that come in really nice boxes with handles and lids, so I asked him to bring me some for some items that I'll need to store in the basement for a while. Free is better than buying tubs for storage.
5. I used my Kohl's cash rather than forgetting about it. (I almost forgot about it.) They didn't have what I wanted to spend it on, so instead I got a shirt for me and some gym shorts for my kids. I'm not exactly sure which kid will end up wearing them, but I believe that one will need black gym shorts for school this year so hopefully they'll work for her.
@Ruth T, I bet your dog is happier with your in-laws, too.
@Ruth T,
TMOBILE (T Life every Tuesday) has weekly/monthly Free Speedway drink rewards if you are TMOBILE customers
@Regina, We're not, but thanks for the tip!
I think I've been failing a bit at being frugal lately, but here are some things from this week:
1. I went for a walk with my parents yesterday. We brought snacks and coffee and I only spent money on the bus ride home.
2. I found some cash in one of my old wallets so I've been using that to pay for things.
3. I'm planning on resoling some shoes this week.
4. This is more my dad's, but he signed up for a free trial of a podcast we enjoy.
5. Not totally frugal because I have to buy a ticket, but I can unexpectedly swim at the lake club again because another friend can bring a guest.
Those clean risers are like ASMR for my eyes. I could look at before/after pictures all. day. long!
I suspect it is a unisex tee-shirt (so basically mens). Great job on making it more comfortable for you. It seems like a nice alternative to scrubs.
1. We went to a free yard sale on Saturday. I saw it posted on the Buy Nothing group. Christmas stuff was advertised and I needed something for a Christmas in July event I am attending this week.I picked up a few items that can be used for an ornament swap. DH also picked up a few items.
2. We wanted to watch the CBS show Tracker but didn't want to see advertising. The library does not have on DVD. American Express was offering a $12.99/month credit if you used our card on Paramount+. That is the cost of one month of no ads Paramount+. I signed up and also received the first week for free. I went to cancel the subscription the other day and was offered two months free. We are enjoying watching something different in the evening.
3. The fitted sheets we usually use on our bed developed a large rip and the fabric was shredded near the rip. I broke down and ordered a new sets of sheets that were 100% US made (cotton grown and manufacturing). They were not cheap but I did get a 20% discount based on DH's profession. I feel good about spending in that way. The top sheet will be donated to a group that makes quilts for Lutheran World Relief. They use sheets for backings and most of their fabric is donated as well.
4. It was hot yesterday and yet a friend and I walked in the afternoon. We walked on a wooded trail, I put my Chill Pal around my neck, and brought water with me. I try not to let heat derail socializing and exercising though most days I walk early.
5. DH went to see a dermatologist a few weeks ago. According to the EOB we just received he was overcharged for the co-pay. I have my annual skin check next month. I will ask about it then.
@K D, I’m guessing those new sheets will have a very long life. Sometimes we just have to pay for the better quality items. . . pain in the shortterm often equals much better longterm results.
@K D,
I have a king sized fitted sheet that ended up the same way. I'm thinking of getting a new fitted sheet to go with the "leftover" top sheet and pillowcases (they are solid white, so I'll pick a color to go with), but I like your plan for reuse! The sheet set that ended up with the shredded/torn fitted sheet were given to me by my mom, more than 15 years ago, and she had used them before that. I agree with Central Calif. Artist Jana, buying good quality items does pay off in the long run.
@Liz B., I did that for our bed. Just got another off white fitted sheet when the old one ripped. I don’t care if they match exactly.
@Liz B.,
I'm seeing all these comments about fitted sheets.
I spent 24 years in the U.S. Army. Uncle Sam does not believe in fitted sheets. Soldiers are given 2 flat sheets to make their bunks. The bottom sheet is put on with the edge even with the end of the mattress at the foot of the bed. The excess sheet at the head of the bed is folded over and made with hospital corners. The top sheet is put on with the edge even with the top of the mattress and the excess is tucked in with hospital corners at the foot of the bed. So there is no need for a fitted sheet.
This may help when fitted sheets wear out. Just get a flat sheet as a replacement.
I also use our dehumidifier water for inedible plants. The cleaning hack is pretty sweet! Also, thank you for reminding me to try the boiling water trick on our patio weeds. They keep overrunning the stonework I laid despite the multiple layers of landscaping fabric underneath.
FFT
--Related to yesterday's okra story, I noticed yesterday that my plants had put out their first pods! I'm quite excited, as I've never had okra.
--'Tis zucchini season! Mine hasn't fruited yet, but a friend shared her own bounty. We had blackened salmon with zucchini last night, and I'll use up the other half on Wednesday. (Tonight is chicken tikka masala via the crockpot.)
--I scored a wall-mounted towel rack of Amazon's used section for $4 instead of $40! The description only noted packaging damage, so here's hoping it's fine (everything I've ordered this way has been).
--Related to the above, we're preparing for our mini bathroom reno in late August/early September--the tub gets switched to one that will actually fit an adult! I've taken the opportunity to try out new places for things that just weren't working where they were and sorting out old over the counter medication and products. $4 towel rack aside, I've not bought anything for this and have been shopping the house for trays and other containers.
--Also related to the above, I've been refinishing our new cast iron tub. It was free because the outside needed redone, but the inside enamel is PERFECT. Before I could paint it, though, I had to get the old feet off and remove the original faucet, all of which were stuck fast after 101 years. (The tub's manufacture date is cast into the bottom--1924!) I managed the feet but didn't have big enough wrenches or hand strength for the faucet. I called our local plumber and asked if he had five minutes to work the faucet loose sometime during the week; he showed up within half an hour with his full kit! He enjoys a challenge and seeing what my current project is. We had a fun chat during the 5-10 minutes it took him to get the faucet off, with me sitting on the (currently upside down) tub to weigh it down while he worked. He ended up having to use an angle grinder on the bolts, which made me feel better about my (lack of) prowess! I repaid the favor by bringing lunch (cheesy cauliflower and potato soup--tastes like comfort) for him and his small crew the next day. I love our village so frickin' much.
@N,
It's very cool that you are finishing an old cast iron tub. I'm sure that will be a very rewarding project. Let us know how it turns out.
@N, your village sounds fabulous! So happy you live in a place where neighbors help each other like that.
@N, I love reading about your frugal resourcefulness, and your courage and determination to plow ahead.
@N,
You are always working on the coolest projects!
Two things came to mind:
1) We stayed in an Airbnb in Colorado that had a claw foot tub - probably not antique, but who knows - well, my DH and I loved the look, but the sides came up so high that we had to practically vault our way in. BTW, we old fogies are not gymnasts by any stretch of the imagination. 🙂 The bathroom floor tile was very shiny and slick, too. Just some things to consider. (This was the only full bathroom in the Airbnb, so there were no other options).
2) Maybe 8 or 9 years ago, we had to replace our kitchen faucet. My area has extremely hard water, and DH had turned off the water softener at some point. You can see where this is going...our plumber had to use some sort of drill/grinder thingie (it might have been an angle grinder, I have no idea) to remove our old faucet. It took him literally HOURS to get it off. His fee was well earned!
@Bee, Honestly, getting the feet off was the hardest part! All the rest is pretty regular refinishing work: cleaning, sanding, cleaning again, priming, and painting. It should be done curing by the end of this week so the feet can be installed and the tub flipped right-side up.
@Hawaii Planner, Indeed! My husband and I count ourselves fortunate to have found a true home here.
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, You flatter me! My success rate is largely owed to picking low risk, high reward projects and a willingness to fail. As I joked with my plumber friend when he paid a similar compliment, "How badly can I **** up cast iron, really?"
@Liz B., To paraphrase William Morris, my husband and I want everything in our home--the house we never thought we'd have--to be both beautiful and useful. To heck with resale value! We are going to live here until we haunt the place, so it may as well be the way we want it. 😛
Regarding your #1, I have thought of that! I've a little stepping stool for the tub already (hand-carved, found at Goodwill for $6), as I'm much shorter than my 6'2" husband. We're also having the contractor install a handicap/accessibility bar on the wall at the same time he puts in the tub, in preparation for when we're old and doddering and/or just need a safe grip.
@N, I love soaking and reading in a claw foot tub. We had one in a home we rented years ago. My nephews new house a one although it’s a new one. I get to soak in it when I babysit my great nephew. I call it more than a fair trade! Playing with a one year old then after he is in bed I get spa time!
Wait, why can't you use dehumidifier water for edible plants?
@Carla G, Mostly because dehumidifiers can harbor mold and bacteria--this article explains it more. I'm guessing it would be fine for outdoor decorative plants, but not indoor plants (because, again, it could have mold spores or bacteria).
https://www.livescience.com/is-dehumidifier-water-good-for-plants
@Carla G,
I often just use it to flush the toilet, actually.
But, knock on wood, I haven't had to use the dehumidifier this year yet
You could also use that water to water plants.
FFT, Beef and Other Things Edition:
(1) On Monday, I took delivery on the quarter-steer I still buy annually from friends who raise it (they’re in their 70s and have cut back to one steer per year). It was already 86 degrees here, so we had to work quickly to get the frozen beef out of their truck and into my basement freezer. But the deed is done–and the cost, even when all auxiliary charges are figured in, is still an astonishing $2.57/lb. Blessings on these folks, as ever.
(2) This year’s steer was a big boy, so there’s about a third again as much beef as there was last year. But this just means all the more for sharing with the Bestest Neighbors, Dr. BN’s daughter and granddaughter, and other friends. (At my cost, of course. This ain’t no scalping operation.)
(3) We finally did get a glorious thunderstorm in the wee small hours of Sunday, and a brief but hard shower Sunday afternoon, so I’m off watering duty for at least a couple of days. It’s a great pleasure to be able to do a few things in the garden besides just subsistence watering. And all my rain buckets are full. (But I'm continuing to save some water from my AC's condenser drip in the basement. Another hot, dry spell is coming up.)
(4) On Saturday, I took a drive out to a small, upscale village about 20 miles east of here, for multiple errands. First, I cruised its Farmers’ Market (where I found an unusual herb plant I’ve been looking for, plus some lovely multicolored Araucana eggs for less than the usual going rate at this market). I then hit the absolutely ace village library book sale, where I came away with 9 b00ks and 4 CDs for $17.50.
(5) And I wound up Saturday with a visit to the friends who live south of the village, on the country property where DH’s ashes are buried. After I delivered 80th birthday prezzies to the female half of the couple (mostly birdseed and human consumables), we all walked up to pay DH a visit. I noticed that the 18″ high chunk of log on which DH’s marker stone rests had some loose bark, and I said jokingly, “Here, honey, let me make you a little more comfortable.” I tugged at the bark–and the entire circle of it came off in my hand, leaving a lovely bare stripped log. I turned to the friends and said, “Well, I guess he wanted that off!” So DH is still checking in now and again–to my and his friends’ joy and amusement.
@A. Marie,
I'm so pleased that you got to have some joy at the site of the ashes!
we brought breakfast items on our trip to vegas. thankfully there was a walgreens across the street from the resort we were staying in and i was able to get a loaf of bread, peanut butt and jelly and some deli meat for lunches. i also brought snacks we could carry that wouldn't melt in a backpack. we also ALWAYS bring metal water bottles and refill. i just wish i could have sourced ice (i've heard horror stories about the ice machines at hotels and i have since steared clear), some casino's allowed me to grab ice from their soda machine with my purchase in a store or something.
@amanda, please share your horror stories of hotel ice machines because until I read your comment, I’ve never thought about avoiding them!
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, Same here!
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, I worked my way through university as a hotel maid and I don't ever use hotel ice machines. Unless they're cleaned regularly the machines can harbor mold and bacteria which can contaminate the ice. Also many people scoop out the ice using their hands which means all kinds of fun things like norovirus can be transferred into the machine.
And I never ever use the ice bucket in the room for anything. People use them for all sorts of disgusting things.
@Darlene Too, thank you for the all-too-vivid warnings. What's just been seen cannot now be unseen.
Frugal wins this week include:
1. We took our family out to dinner using gift cards we had on-hand & purchased at a discounted rate (We pay $71 for $85 in gift cards at Sams Club). We do this often to save a little extra $ while also trying to be generous with family and friends.
2. I made my daughter her birthday dinner at home (her request). I did buy a pre-made ice cream cake because I found a great deal on them at Aldi last week-I couldn't make it cheaper!
3. We continue to use the produce in our garden in our meals and even for a fun snack (chocolate zucchini bread is a family favorite)
4. In other garden news, I found a random plant growing in our compost. Thinking it was a zucchini plant, I transplanted it into our vegetable garden bed. This "zucchini plant" turned out to be a butternut squash plant that is abundantly producing large fruit. Thank goodness we like butternut squash and had the room for this rather aggressive and space hogging plant (we use trellises to grow some of it vertically, which helps).
@Sarah, I had a spaghetti squash grow in my compost pile! It felt like such an auspicious treat!!
Some frugal bits:
1. I continue to bike to the library, even in the heat and humidity. It would be nice if the library opened a tad bit earlier, but I persevere. Yesterday it actually got cloudy and a bit rainy, which cooled me off! So I refrained from stopping at a gas station to grab more water, as I just wasn't in dire need.
2. We also biked to church and stopped at the grocery store to get some grapefruit. Frugal Fail on my part: I had not inspected the grapefruit I buy in the 8 lb bag, and at least two were moldy. GROSS. Hence the extra stop for more grapefruit, which is a staple here.
3. Library books forever! I am thoroughly enjoying The Plague And I, by Betty MacDonald, all about her stint in a TB sanatorium.
4.
Frugal Fails: I shopped while hungry last week and picked up a bag of Bob's Red Mill Protein Oats. It seemed like a good idea; an oat cultivar that has more protein, naturally, than other oats, and they're gluten free. Well, maybe it's just me but they SMELL funky. Like grass. I will eat them up, but dang. I'll stick with regular oats from now on. And I bought some school supplies too early, forgetting that our state's tax free holiday is coming up. At least I bought them on sale!
@Karen A., maybe it was that package of oats. I bought a package a few weeks ago and it seems fine, no smell. I use it in overnight oats and it's delicious!
@Karen A., I love Betty MacDonald's books! Maybe I should dig out my copies for a reread.
@Maureen, They taste okay, especially if I put cinnamon in them to mask the kind of grassy smell. They don't seem spoiled. And I like the texture. I will have to try them overnight oats; it's a bit of a bummer that they're not supposed to be cooked in the microwave or they'll explode or something.
1. I borrowed books from a friend that were hard to get at the library
2. I bought a clearance Old Navy swimsuit to start lap swimming at the gym
3. I scheduled recurring monthly donations to our local PBS/NPR and food pantry
4. I hassled Walmart until they refunded me for a pair of goggles that never showed up!!
5. I asked my dad if he had any spare goggles, and he me rifle through his stash. He officiates swim meets and says if goggles are left unattended for the duration of the swim meet he picks them up to redistribute 🙂
@Andrea G / Midwest Andrea,
I have given monthly to PBS for years and in turn I am given access to the PBS streaming app. There is much more yo watch than what is on my local PBS station.
@Bee, Yes, we have started catching up on All Creatures Great and Small already!
@Andrea G / Midwest Andrea,
That's great that you still have PBS. My (Michigan/MSU) PBS cancelled due to federal cuts. I was surprised because MSU always seemed to be doing fundraisers for PBS.
@Bee, Thank you.
I don't have cable or streaming, just an antenna. And years ago Baylor University took over our city's nice little P B S station, and then when no one gave 'em money (it was Baylor's not the town's station by then, so why should we pay for it???), they got all ugly about it and shut it down. I haven't been able to see P B S in years. But this may be a solution. I wonder if the streaming app can be used on a non-smart TV or a desktop computer?
Meanwhile, Baylor is now making noises about their NPR station. It cut funding for it before Trump did, and now they want my money. Too bad, Baylor, I listen to -- and contribute to -- the one in Dallas.
@Fru-gal Lisa,
It can even on a smart phone
@Regina, can you still access a PBS station? I just tripled my monthly contribution to my southwest Michigan station. I did not expect cancellations to occur this quickly and am sorry to hear MSU has done that.
Sewing skills always come in handy!
I planted sedum in a few spots against a fence where I always had to pull out weeds. It works well, as there is no space left for weeds to grow. But for curb cracks, that is not an option ofcourse
These are my FFT's, they are add-ons to my usual cooking and laundering efforts:
-I got a free route map to Denmark from the Automobilists Association (We are considering a trip to Denmark via Hamburg DE).
-I found a novel in a Little Free Library.
- On a rainy day, someone left a towel on my bicycle luggage carrier. They probably used it to dry their saddle, and forgot. So now I have a new to me towel.
-I repurposed an unused wide shallow bowl to become a bird bath. The sparrows love it, as I put it on the balcony where the cat cannot get at it.
- We needed a bed sheet since the nights were so warm, and they were A on offer, 50% off, and B I paid with a voucher my husband had won on a raffle
Plus one:
-The ecological shop had garden plants for mid season sale, 2 for the price of 1. I bought blue geraniums, I hope they will catch on. We have had rain, so that is a bonus for planting.
@JNL, BLUE geraniums?? Are they the true geranium or are they pelargoniums? I am so very curious, because domestic flowers rarely come in blue around here.
@JNL, Nice! I took the train from Denmark to Hamburg last year.
@Central Calif. Artist Jana,
I never know if I should translate them to geranium or pelargonium actually. This is a Tibet variety apparently. But I also love Johnson's blue. And we have pale pink, a wild variety. Wild geraniums are called "stork's beak" in translation.
I've been doing more spending than saving lately, what with everyone needing new jeans, my car needing new tires and rotors, and my husband fixing our crumbling bathroom. But! We have the money for all of these things in part because I always do frugal things like looking in the shoe bin before buying new shoes, not buying new backpacks for my children every year, and, of course, all the kitchen stuff. So it's okay I can't think of five unusually frugal things this time. 🙂
@kristin @ going country, Also an FYI: Vinegar kills weeds very well. It is, of course, not free, but if you've soaked something in vinegar or whatever, you can pour the vinegar over your weeds instead of down the drain.
@kristin @ going country, when I was making the graduation poster for DS18 this year, I noticed his kindergarten backpack is still very much in service as his backpack for tennis practice. He needed to upgrade to a laptop bag, once they had to bring that back & forth & something with a bit more room for textbooks (no lockers), but the kinder background lasted for 10+ years as a school backpack before it progressed to the tennis backpack. It made me very pleased. 🙂
I would feel so delighted by this too!
@kristin @ going country, We also use the pickle juice left in jars to kill weeds (specifically, poison ivy).
I'm guessing the principle is the same as dumping vinegar on weeds? But probably also the saltiness helps!
@Jody S. and @kristin @ going country, my sad experience is that nothing--not boiling water, not vinegar (either regular or horticultural strength), and not pickle juice--kills weeds in cracks permanently. They may get knocked down for a while, but they'll be back. And as the owner of a brick driveway and sidewalk, I know whereof I speak.
Oh yeah, I'm sure these will reappear by next summer at the bare minimum. But boiling water is cheap, so I will continue to give them a steamy watering when they pop up. 😉
@A. Marie, Yep. Weeds will never be gone for good, but I will fight the fight to keep the poison ivy out of the yard.
@Jody S., does the pickle juice kill everything else around it in addition to poison ivy? I have poison ivy on walnut tree (which has gotten worse) & in my hostas planted around the tree.
@Regina, That's a good question, but I can't answer the definitively because we have a lot of wild stuff around the edge of our yard. I don't notice if other stuff dies. I would guess that it would take a lot more pickle juice to kill a walnut tree than it would to kill poison ivy. Another option might be to frequently use some sort of hand pruner to snip the poison ivy where it comes out of the ground.
@A. Marie, I've read of some people using a blowtorch designed for killing weeds in pavement? Would that work?
Really like your Tshirt fix! Maybe I will set a 2026 goal to learn some basic sewing skills. I'm always envious & think "I wish I could do that". Then I try to remind myself, like any other skill, you can try to learn! 🙂
1) Booked two free nights in a hotel, using points, for a mid-week getaway. My office is closed for a few days, so the mid-week option is really compelling. We are heading to Napa, and will get a few days at a fancy hotel for less points than a weekend (I'm not sure that they even offer points redemption on summer weekends) & take advantage of the free vacation days.
2) Continued to make sure of my treadmill desk topper, which helps me get in steps, even when I'm working. I do not take video calls from this, it's more for walking while I'm: watching training videos, reading docs/decks, etc. I also have structured workouts, but getting in a small amount of activity during the work day helps me focus, and keeps me healthy. Health is frugal!
3) Ate leftovers for dinner, which is a pretty consistent theme in our house. Last night was halibut (caught by a friend in Alaska, and brought to us) for some, and hot dogs for others. It was an eclectic combination, but everyone was fed. 😉
4) We are planning to drive our electric car to our mid-week getaway, and will charge for free at the hotel.
5) We continue our line drying of almost all clothing (minus socks, underwear, and towels). It helps with energy efficiency, but mostly also keeps our clothing lasting longer.
@Hawaii Planner, check your library & see if they have adult programs. Our local library has adult program that teaches sewing & meets regularly at library (in conference room).
@Regina, I've seen a few, but they are typically in the day time, and conflict with my work schedule. I'll keep my eye out for a weekend one.
"...like lightly sauteed spinach" - the most elegant weed-killing description LOL xo
My BFF showed me this weekend that she is collecting water from her HVAC condensation line and using it to water her flowers.
My FFT:
- Paid for yearly termite protection in full to get 5% discount
- Made homemade pizza, using Kristen's pizza dough recipe, for Friday night dinner
- Made pasta sauce with roasted cherry tomatoes picked from our garden. Leftover sauce was used as pizza sauce.
- Made cucumber salad to use up cucumbers from our garden
- Used a store credit to make a purchase before it expired
Your frugalities reflect a mindset, even if they don't all save a ton of money, and I think that's how it should be!
1. Similar to Kristen's water re-use, when I water the garden, which I'm having to do more with the high heat and no rain days we are having again, the faucet always leaks. Instead of letting it just leak, I set watering cans under it and catch the leak, then use that water to individually water some of the newer trees in my yard.
2. I mentioned a while back that I bought a bag of unused zippers and zippers cut out of clothing for about $2-$3 in a thrift store. It also had a Modern Marvel zipper repair tool in a wonderfully vintage package holding both the tool and the yellowed instructions. This weekend I closed the zipper on a mesh laundry bag for washing delicates, and the zipper end pulled right off. Following the tool's instructions, I easily got it right back on and the zipper working again.
3. I finally remembered to submit a skin biopsy to my insurance and received $25 in my account two days later. Insurance had paid for the biopsy, so this was additional money. The biopsy was benign :).
4. With the miserable heat this weekend, I kept the curtains closed even though I much prefer them wide open when I am home. The largest windows have thermal curtains, so this helped with cooling the house. My curtains are always closed when I am gone, regardless of weather.
5. We are getting ready for the trip to the beach and we are all bringing stuff out of our homes with us, as our unit says it has "starter supplies" and we'll have a dozen or more people. Snacks, laundry detergent, dishwasher detergent, soap, toilet paper, some food and drinks are being brought. We will go to the grocery store, once we get there and see what is there already.
6. Bonus: The hospice thrift store has a sale the last Friday of the month, and the savings amount is random - this time it was 30% off. I found two nice pairs of slacks that were amazingly in my length already, and a new with tags shirt, plus two very nice stainless Revere Ware pie pans - my metal pie pan had disappeared somehow and I can't use glass in the toaster oven - plus a lovely vintage piece of Heisey glass, all for just under $40, and the money all goes to a cause I definitely support. It's the hospice DH went to, and they were wonderful to us all.
@JD, I've lived almost 50 years in Revere Ware country (there used to be a factory in nearby Rome, NY), and I have never even seen a Revere Ware pie pan. And enjoy your time at the beach!
@JD,
My mom and dad used to collect Heisey glass. Some of it is very pretty! Lucky you!
I have never tried the boiling water trick. I often use vinegar, salt, and a bit of Dawn to make a potent nontoxic weed killer. Of course, I pull weeds every day this time of year out of my flowerbeds.
It was not very eventful, frugal week. With the heat index hitting 115 over the last few days, I have tried to keep outdoor activity at a minimum.
• I enjoyed my free book club last week although none of us really loved our selection last month. I have ordered this month's selection from the library.
• I have always wanted a little hand chopper for my kitchen. I found a new one that was still in the box at an estate sale for $6. I bought a couple of other silly little things too - a handmade Christmas ornament, a package of Styrofoam cones for crafts, and some decorations for my annual Saint Patty's Day dinner. I also bought some lucite and gold candles for resale.
• I took care of the grandchildren on Sunday afternoon. We went swimming for nearly 2 hours. I took the fish that DH caught when they went offshore two weeks ago out of the freezer and made dinner for everyone.
• My ibotta account finally reached $20 so I transferred the balance to my mad money account.
• Rescue Pup needed a new collar. She has gained some weight living with us. I used a discount code to buy a new one. This collar screams Florida -- pink & green with embroidered alligators and palm trees. So silly, but fun.
• All the usual things – – drinking primarily filtered water, brewing my own coffee, and eating simple meals at home.
Wishing everyone peace, good health, and prosperity.
I like to pull when I can too...but MAN, these ones in the driveway are so anchored in there I can't get a good handle on them to pull. And that's even with us getting so much rain all summer.
@Bee,
My Aunt sent our rescue dogs (Florida) stuffed dog toys---bright orange snake with neon green& blue specks on it, a little coral colored crab & bright yellow sun with sun glasses on. Nothing wrong with having something fun.
That's a great idea on the shirt. I have a few I could try that on.
I don't have much this week.
1) I returned some items that have been sitting around waiting to be returned. I had meant to exchange some of them but by this point the summer is 1/2 over so I decided I really didn't need them.
2) Picked up English muffins to make breakfast sandwiches instead of buying them out.
That's probably about all that I can come up with at the moment.
3) I volunteered w/ a food rescue yesterday in exchange for a free month of composting service.
Have been doing some "decluttering and purging" in my office in order to get ready for retirement early next year (9 months left!). I have listed some items for sale and purged some garbage. Already bought some cabinets to store my crafting supplies. Just looking for a long counter top.
I went thru my mother's jewelry and kept some sentamental stuff. I then took the jewelry that I thought was good to a jeweler and got $1300. for it. And the costume jewelry got put into a ziploc that I am selling. Put $1000. away for our vacation and then bought some items that we needed.
Did food prep on Sunday so that we don't waste any food this week. It's a great feeling to come home from the gym and breakfast (overnight oats) is ready to eat. We also chopped up a huge pork loin we bought at Sam's club and put the pieces in the freezer.
Husband took some leftover potatoes and made some homefries and we added some bacon and eggs for dinner last night. Glad the potatoes didn't go to waste since neither of us wanted to cook.
Working on our dirt pile from last fall. Since it is so hot out, we will be doing just a couple of wheelbarrows full of dirt each night to move it off the driveway. And husband and I decided to work together to get it moving since neither of us want to move it. But it's got to be done!
Our shower takes about 3 - 5 minutes to warm up (it's on the other side of the house from the water heater), so we use a bucket to collect the water until it's warm enough for us to step under, and then we use the filled bucket to help water our garden (though one of our dogs has decided that the shower water tastes better than her bowl water, and she will often sneak in to drink it before we take it outside). It probably doesn't save a ton of money from our water bill, but it does prevent us from wasting water unnecessary, and keeps the dog hydrated 😀
@LeslieS, Can you get to your pipes? Covers that look sort of like pool noodles wrap around the pipes for insulation and are not expensive. (Not that you are wasting the water now; might save a little energy).
@Heidi Louise, our current house is on a slab foundation, so the pipes are either in the slab or in the walls. But thank you for the suggestion!
I agree the T-shirt looks much better now. Little things like this can make a big difference.
*I have a friend who is coming home today after visiting her daughter for two weeks. I wanted to take her a meal so she doesn't have to cook after a long travel day, but I challenged myself to use what I had on hand. So I ended up making a fritatta, an Asian-inspired slaw, and a one-serving peach crisp.
*As part of our clean-out-the-house push this summer, my husband has been working on a big pile of scrap that has lived behind our garage for a decade. The largest items were three hot water solar panels we were given. Ten feet by four feet. They are no longer functional, but he took them apart and separated the various types of metal. There was a LOT of copper in those panels. He took everything to the scrap yard last week and came home with a check for almost $500. Well worth the time and effort -- and everything looks much better back there. One more trip to the dump this week and he says he'll be done.
*We're eating chard, green onions, peas, carrots, herbs, zucchini, and potatoes from the garden.
*I mended a T-shirt, and sewed a pair of pajama shorts from flannel left over from another project.
* We had our annual chimney cleaning, and the technician discovered a broken part inside the wood stove. He quoted us over $300 to replace it. My husband ordered the part and did the repair himself for just under $200.
T-shirt does look nicer. T-shirt sleeves are almost always past my elbow, so pinch rolling them helps me. The other issue I have with them is the length. I have been known to shorten them a bit.
I did buy two more pair of capris on eBay. I am seeing that it isn't always quite as frugal to do that as it once was with the price of shipping what it is. However, I usually can find what I like that fits, easier than purchasing in a retail situation. I still have a new dress from Aldi (I can't believe it either, I've gotten three that FIT and are stylish!) that was not hemmed and is a pleated crinkly type fabric that will need a rolled or narrow or serged hem.
Got another large cucumber from the garden and a big handful of green beans. Also picked a jalapeno and ancho to use in some corn dip since fresh corn is available.
I was good and went to HyVee Sunday after church just for ice and ice cream and that's all I came out with. Not usually as frugal, but I get two 8lb bags for $3.49 ea rather than the 20lb bag for $6.49 because I rarely can get it to fit in the fridge freezer. However.
There were no 8lb bags so I had to punt. I managed to squeeze it all in w/o loosing any.
Gas is $2.82 here and I filled up on Friday morning on the way home from work.
@Chrissy, I want to drive to where you are and fill my gas tank! Last time I filled up it was $4.00 for the cheapest grade. Sigh.
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, news reported last night (Michigan) that gas prices increasing. I just checked Gas Buddy & gas (25 mile radius from me) $2.73>>$3.40. For Michigan I'm not sure if increase is due to possible gas tax increase (Governor wants) or other reasons.
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, I was shocked at the gas prices when I was in the San Francisco area in May. I paid $2.89 at Costco last week.
So my dehumidifier is always really gross looking so I can't imagine using the water for anything other than just dumping outside. Mine goes via hose to a sump pump well which then pumps outside.
1.) Stopped at a garage sale and bought some Cooks Illustrated Magazines for almost free. I have been toying with the idea of finding an eBook version of most of my cookbooks to seriously downsize since, if we're being honest, I use maybe 2-3 cookbooks usually and am more apt to use cards or printouts of stuff.
2.) Speaking of, the ATK Cookbook is on sale for $5 in Kindle format on Amazon and it's tempting to pick it up as that would take up a lot less room than the older version I currently have.
3.) While traveling we went by a Costco and got our lunch there and also grabbed a couple things we needed. Cheap lunch, cheap gas plus not making a special trip to Costco. So all a win.
4.) Going grocery shopping and picking up all the good sale items and meal planning with them.
5.) Just doing the good and normal stuff again. Line drying clothes, packing lunches five days a week etc.
I will definitely have to use the weed killing trick as I was just trying to get some weeds out of asphalt cracks this weekend! Also, very cool trick on the Parmesan, we always have a little end bits of it.
1. Enjoyed free cat-sitting by inviting my SIL and her husband to stay in our house when we were on vacation. A win-win as she enjoyed the change of scenery from where she lives.
2. Biked to the Farmers Market instead of driving.
3. Bought tickets to a day-time movie instead of one in the evening to save on the tickets.
4. Checked my balance at the consignment shop where I sell some items, and I have a credit of over 70 dollars waiting for me when I find something I need.
5. For a recent work gift where we could choose items from a catalogue, skipped over pampering gifts and instead chose a couple of practical items such as a fire blanket for our kitchen which has been on my list.
1. Instead of going out for ice cream, we opted to have Popsicles on our patio. Saved money, time, gas and calories.
2. Renewed my annual cell plan with Tracfone. $200 for unlimited texts, unlimited calls and 48 GB of data.
3. Cut up a throw pillow cover and used it to reupholster a dining room chair seat that had a non-removable stain. Before it was a pillow cover it was a bedroom curtain, so the return on investment is quite high. Put the scraps in my textile recycling bin (our county will start this program next year).
4. Used another pillow cover to create a drawstring bag to go around the wool duster that we use to clean the cobwebs from our vaulted wood ceilings. The wool duster would catch on knots and imperfections in the wood and the resulting tufts of wool were unsightlier than the cobwebs!
5. Asked my Buy Nothing group for specific donations to an organization I’m involved with. They came through with a lot of new personal care and clothing items. I picked up everything on the same day to reduce the number of trips.
I accepted another partial trailer load of bark dust from my builder friend. Soon the front and side yards will be done. Looking good!
Using my insta pot big toaster oven on the back porch during our hot days.
Made a big pot of navy beans and pintos for the freezer.
Dried blueberries for this winter's baking.
Cleaned out the big barn to paint fence boards in the shade, told the nephew he could use the space to host a party before his friends go back to college. He was meticulous in cleaning, not my plan, but a fun bonus! The barn hasn't looked this clean in 50 yrs.
Picking and canning peaches tomorrow. My dear friend is bringing apricots from her homestead in E Washington to can on Friday.
Wait, what do you use bark dust for? I've never heard of this!
I'm thankful for your sleeve modification information because it's inspiring me to tackle some things I need to do! This week:
*we packed some snacks for my girls to take to the park where they were selling things at an event (Kids Art in the Park). I ended up buying some lunch from a food truck, but I tried to keep it as cheap as possible: I didn't buy the $8 cup of lemonade! We drank water from the spring that was free.
*my husband and I had a quick getaway. Since a son needed picked up at the airport, we planned in that general direction, kind of.
* We used a coupon for $50 off our hotel room before it expired.
*For fun, we thrifted most of the day away and found several birthday/Christmas gifts for our children and some clothing needs.
*Our friends (who live halfway across the country) were visiting a parent ever-so-close to BWI, so we took a leisurely drive in the afternoon to visit with them at her home and enjoyed some crabs and company. It was less expensive and more enjoyable to wait for the 9:30 flight just 20 minutes away in the comfort of a friendly backyard and free meal than it was to find a restaurant to linger in. (Full disclosure: The mosquitos and humidity technically weren't comfortable, but the company was more lovely than glares from wait staff who want you to move on.) This is also far less expensive than visiting friends halfway across the country.
*Aforementioned friends visited our house also made a quick visit to our house before our little getaway. Their daughter (who works at a seamstress shop) fixed my broken serger machine and taught me a little about how to use it. This was a wonderful thing!
******Kristen, I mentally waved at you since I was on your side of the state. 🙂
I had more frugal fails than wins this week, but living frugally most of the time allows for things that come up. My cat, Finn, got cat acne on his chin. I changed his bowl, brushed and cleaned it, used medicated wipes, but although much improved...it just wasn't going away. So, vet appointment for him ($134 for meds, appt, antibiotic shot, etc).
I use quicken for logging expenses. I know there are other things and cheaper things, but mainly I keep it because I've used it since like 2011. I could tell you who fixed my roof in the house then or when I purchased a car or all kinds of stuff. We look back at something at least every other week so I keep using it. They used to sell the cd and if you didn't use the online stuff, you could use it for years with no other cost. They have now figured out how to make you update yearly. I bought the wrong update...aggravating. They are supposed to be sending a refund for that. The right update cost even more.
I'm going to have to figure this out within the next year to let it go.
I lost my credit card in my house somewhere. I'm afraid it ended up in the trash cause I have searched this house. Ordered a new one and put a rush on it.
I did use up all leftovers so no food waste this week. I stayed out of thrift stores and home improvement stores so no real expenses either. Guess that's the best frugal move.
Still eating down the freezer and getting close to the hard bits now. Since my goal is to use up things rather than not spend, this involves buying whatever goes with what I bought. On the sked for this week: sushi rice from a restaurant to use the inari skins.
Not going out a lot. Instead I'm knitting with yarn I have and steaming from services I have either free or for a good price. It's normal to binge an entire season of Broadchurch in a day, right?
Feee exercise: walking and using free-to-me dumbbells. Also working with my preferences (working out within walking distance) rather than against them (driving to a gym).
Keeping up with distant friends while I walk with my extremely low-cost T-Mobile service that includes 3 streaming services (with ads, of course).
How is it I never, never remember everything?
Replaced a button a shirt 5min before leaving for the event, using the bottom-most butting. They're fancy buttons so they have to match.
Ran other errands when I exchanged sneakers about 20 min away. At penzeys I continued to accumulate candied ginger (the deal made them 60% off). At the running store the cashier helped me pile on credits and discounts so the second pair was 25% less than the first.
I bought 2 pair sneakers because if you alternate days, the shoes have a chance to dry out and so last longer than two pair worn in a row. Vimes Theory of Boots in action.
Will use some of my $100 Door Dash credit for dinner in the next couple of days, including for that sushi rice.
Made a stir-fry almost entirely of need-to-use veggies and sauce I had on the freezer.
• I gave my dad more empty boxes for their move.
• I had to go to work this weekend for a meeting. One of the lunches provided was a salad bar. At the end of the meeting on Sunday a couple coworkers and I brought home some of the leftover salad fixings. I used the mushrooms in a stir fry, the shredded cheese went into my freezer for later, the broccoli was put in the snack veggies container, and the shredded carrots were turned into muffins that then made their way back to the office.
• I used stars for my Tuesday Starbucks run.
• I did not go grocery shopping this week – our CSA is keeping us well stocked.
• I remembered to use Upside when I filled up with gas – I didn’t fill up at my usual place so I happy to see they were participating in the app.
1. Several subscriptions cancelled to save $$$.
2. Mostly all meals at home.
3. Fuel refill at Kroger using fuel points to save $0.60/gallon. Waited until I was 30 miles to Empty to get the most bang for my buck.
4. My husband got a promotion which included a car so we will be selling his car. Until we can get that done it is sitting in our driveway. I dropped insurance coverage to the state minimum requirements for coverage saving us over $100/month.
5. School starts Friday and batch cooking season has begun. I will be making 10 lbs of meatballs this weekend, blueberry muffins, and maybe some blueberry scones. If anyone has any other great blueberry recipes please pass them along. Homemade yogurt is in my future this weekend as well.
@Angie, Blueberry zucchini bread is delicious. Recipe on the BudgetBytes.com website.
@Nancy in Eastern Washington, made a goof. The recipe is from Little houseliving.com
I use both those sites a lot.
@Angie, Isn't it great to get a company car? My hubby had one for the last three years of his career and it included gas and insurance. We would go on lovely drives during the weekends.
Let's see if I have 5...
1. Have not felt like going anywhere, so have decided not to travel this summer. I'm just enjoying my time being home and doing small, fun things here.
2. Mended some small holes in socks to get a bit more wear out of them.
3. Found a kitchen item I love (2 glass casserole dishes with covers) new in the package at a local thrift store for $10. Picked them up to use as a wedding shower gift. Hopefully the bride-to-be will find them as useful as I do.
4. Crafted homemade cards for several occasions recently with supplies I already owned. Had fun being creative, blessed someone else with a unique creation, and saved money too. Most nice cards here are $6 and up, and even discount ones are $2 or more. I use envelopes that I purchased from thrift stores.
5. Wanted to read Remarkably Bright Creatures, so I interlibrary loaned it rather than buying it. Good book!
6. Doing a pantry clean out challenge for myself. Hand shelled out two bags of pistachios that weren't getting used. Used them along with a chopped up Toblerone bar to make yummy cookies. These were all gift items that had been in my pantry for a long time waiting for a "special" occasion.
7. Cooked up a pot of pinto beans from a pantry stash. Made a delicious Mexican style casserole with part. Will use some for refried beans and maybe freeze some for later use.
Clearly you have lots of time on your hands these days if you are mowing, weeding, and scrubbing stair risers! That makes me happy for you. 😎
I wonder if Parmesan ends would crisp up in a regular oven.
Interesting that you were able to modify the tee shirt without a serger or zigzag. I hesitate to repair knits because my Singer Featherweight doesn’t have those capabilities, but perhaps that is merely an excuse on my part. (I dislike boy clothes and clothing with words on it.)
Two Frugal Things:
1. My jeans are all about 15 years old and thus disintegrating at the same time. I got a 15% off coupon on any one full-priced item from LLBean, so I ordered 2 pairs of jeans, using my “Beanbucks” in addition to the discount. I hope one of those styles works and will be returning whichever one does not fit.
2. A dress that has been in my closet for about 20 years fits again so I will wear it to my art show opening next week. This is silk, teal, and from J.Peterman. Although it didn’t fit for many years, I could not bear to let it go. (Yes, I was able to scoot the waistband button and hook-and-eye about 1/8” over; it was always a bit too tight, so shut up!)
Haha, welllll, I have been working at the hospital 9 out of the last 11 days. But since I no longer have to study for exams, I do have time on my days off to do other things!
Frugal things---
● FREE 8x10 photo (TMOBILE REWARDS)
● used my $10 (Ace birthday) reward for few new house keys as teen snapped key off in door handle (which I took apart door handle & gently kept shaking upside down enough to get grip on broken key to pull out & promptly put door handle back on door). 3 keys $2 after discount (which was $1 each cheaper than shown in app)
● teen found curb find of small metal clothing drying rack (nothing wrong) & I gladly took it 🙂
● sold some items at yard sale
● eat all meals at home from pantry & freezer. Didn't make it to grocery store, so bought zero groceries. We are not starving. 😉
● my dad made it from Florida to Michigan & we got him set up at campground (in 100* heat). Took bunch of firewood from wood shed (teen built), crate of small starter pieces of wood, cinder blocks from beside garage & big (Sam's club size) fabric softener container (I don't use anymore). After 4 hours (including breaks due to heat) we got campsite mostly set up.
We are having serious discussion about needed changes on what he (logically) should/can bring. The trike motorcycle (that got broke again going in & out of SMALL toy hauler camper) is not working.
Frugal fail---
● teen didn't eat the really brown sandwich croissants (which likes but I don't) stating to mold so compost for birds
Hot water does wonders on weeds. I pour/drain all cooking water outside onto weeds or landscaping rocks around house.
Vinegar also does a good job killing weeds (not by flowers or gardens) & last longer. But vinegar is more costly than water.
I recently read a study regarding killing weeds with vinegar. Yes, it kills the leaves, but it does not kill the roots. So I guess they are not "well and truly dead", but they will look dead for awhile, anyway.
This reminds me of my parents always "catching" their water in a clean milk jug. When they are waiting for tap water to get hot to do dishes, they catch the cold and water plants, clean things, etc. I am in my mid forties now so it's been going for at least 45 years! They live in town and do have a water bill. Also, growing up, we took very shallow baths! I didn't know people filled their tubs up until staying with a lady when I was about 10. I was amazed, let me tell you. Also, she had bubble bath. The most we had was an old Dawn bottle that we used to squirt water in the tub for fun. It was fun, though! And very frugal.
Not directly frugal, but I invested in a pair of running shoes. Went to my local running shoe store, was fitted, and got a quality pair of running shoes that will allow me to walk and jog relatively pain-free and stay healthy. So, more of a long-term frugal move.
I've made a deliberate effort to use up the produce in my fridge this past week. Eating healthier and saving money while not allowing food to go bad. Yay, me. Cooking from scratch also saves those dollars.
I kept the AC no lower than 74 degrees (usually 75 degrees). That's about as high as I can go with the air conditioning without feeling icky because of the heat and humidity.
I went through my clothing for winter and summer and now have four large trash bags full to resell. Since I've lost 45 lbs. over the past year, nothing fits, but I'll list all of the oversized clothing online and try to make back some of the money I spent in the first place. (Nearly all the clothing--plus what I've purchased to replace it--was purchased in thrift and consignment stores.)
5 FT Beat the System Edition: I noticed from some online advertising that a major bank has a zero percent credit card, and you don't start paying interest for 21 months. Hmmm. As things are now set up, I will pay off my car by income tax time and will be finished paying off the roof in one year. Word has it that we are fixing to really have it socked to us with all this tariff stuff. Sooooo.....
1. I applied for the above-mentioned credit card. Apparently, everyone else is also applying. It usually takes a few minutes to be approved (you are rejected almost immediately, the banker told me), but after waiting a half hour and no computer response, he called and there is a 24 hour backlog. He still thinks I'm a shoo-in, as my house is paid off (their bank held the mortgage) and my income is really good. Which was a surprise to me, but it shows how important Social Security is.
2. I have 2 more Ollie Outlet 10% coupons. I asked an assistant manager and the next time they are going to do the 15% off everything in the store offer will be Black Friday. I've noticed my color of LVP is getting in short supply. So as soon as I get that credit card, I will use it to buy the LVP and begin paying minimum payments until the car is paid off then start attacking this debt with full force. If I get a lot of hours at my two little jobs, I may pay more on one or more of the debts and accelerate this process. (
3. I don't have to *install* the flooring right away, but getting the product assures that my remaining bedroom will match the rest of the house. Like Ollie's says, "when it's gone, it's gone." (I told this to the banker, along with a couple of other frugal wins I've already described in past posts, and he said, "I like the way you think." Then I recommended this blog and NCA blog and the Tightwad Gazette book to him.)
4. Bought one of those gizmos that let you put in a few drops of soap and a bunch of water and it dispenses foaming soap. I think it's a 1:9 ratio or something like that. Earlier, I'd gotten some liquid Apple Cinnamon scented soap on clearance and it smells heavenly. This will let me use it for far longer than just using the undiluted soap.
5. Taking some more closet cleanout items to Goodwill for another 20% off coupon. Since today is Tuesday, I automatically get 20% off anything I buy, but I can save those coupons for later. Thankfully, they don't expire.
----
Tragic update: I am ashamed of myself for fussing about my neighbor's middle-aged stepson who couldn't put in the ceiling fan and made a general mess of things. This occurred a month or so ago. Last night, the neighbor phoned with sad news. The stepson was found in his pickup truck deceased, and is believed to have passed away from either heatstroke or a heart attack. I should not have written those ugly things, even though I was angry, bc the guy was trying his best. I apologize for fuming online, even though I felt I was justifiably angry. Please pray for his family!
@Fru-gal Lisa, oh that is so sad.
You noticing to clean your mirror made me notice to clean my computer screen, yowza ha!
-Made baked oatmeal to use some quickly deteriorating plums and pears (it's not baking weather here either but at least it smells like fall is coming - thanks, cinnamon!)
-Mended a hole in one of my favorite summer short pants (they come to my knees so not sure what to call them). I wish I could tackle things like hems and sleeves as Kristen does, but alas, I tried to learn as a teenager, hated it, and care *just* under the threshold to learn. Maybe in the future. I also gave away my sewing machine years ago.
-Enjoyed to the max a pretty frugal getaway to see my favorite band in my state's capitol city.
-Squash from the garden and we're just starting to get tomatoes too!
-Got my back-to-school shoes on a most epic sale and already in a kids' size so the starting price is lower.
1) I did some sewing repairs late last week too. Two children had shirts with busted seams. One kid's blanket was unraveling on the edges. I carefully pieced the edging back on the blanket and sewed it together. I also had a well-loved cloth grocery bag that had a hole worn in the bottom. For that one I made a patch using fabric I had on hand.
2) I resisted getting takeout Sunday night even though I really wanted to and didn't have a plan in place for dinner. Instead we swung by the grocery store on the way home from swimming and I grabbed a few frozen things. It was not the cheapest way to feed us but still way cheaper (and probably a lot faster too) than take out.
3) I monitored our dental insurance website to see that our claims were actually submitted and they were approved. I find it very awkward to be the person who is on the hook to pay if insurance doesn't pay even if insurance doesn't pay simply because the claim wasn't filed correctly but also not be the person who files the claim. Thank goodness for the problem solvers in doctors offices who are willing to figure out why a claim was denied.
4) I hung clothes on the line. I usually dry them, but it is just so hot they dry on the line almost as quickly as they would dry in the dryer.
5) I would like to buy a new vacuum, but then my mom gave me my grandma's vacuum. Grandma has gone into assisted living and no longer needs the vacuum, and the state of the thing is further proof of why she needs assisted living. I had to clean it with a toothbrush and a water hose it was so gross. But now it is a clean, free vacuum and I have no reasonable excuse to spend any money on a new one.
Congratulations FG! I know that the nursing pathway is not easy...but it will be rewarding! After watching my wife in her career for...I had to pause to calculate it...28 years (wow!)...don't forget to be mindful to balance what administration (bean counters) wants you to do vs. what regulations mandate you to do (it's your license, and yours to protect) so that your patient (you are responsible regardless of hospital protocol and/or aggressive leadership tactics) gets the best of your effort and positive outcomes! My wife got in at the tail-end of when nursing was a profession before the industry forced it to become a business. Hitch your nursing wagon to a competent old timer nurse and learn what administration can and cannot do, as well as what you must do to protect your license when they start looking for a fall guy(person) for their bad/inadequate decisions/policies. Please do not be the last one standing holding the (IV)bag! BTW, still love and use your challah recipe! My family loves it for Shabbat dinners!
1. I clean my house and don’t hire a c
House cleaner. (I’d really like to hire someone, and maybe someday I will!)
2. Went on vacation. Ur stayed local and cooked at the air bnb except for 1 night!
3. My daughter mows out lawn. Our son used to but now he has a job out of the house. She’d like to make $$ but isn’t old enough for a job. So this is a win for us a both!
4. Canceled my peacock subscription
5. Our 21st anniversary was last week and we didn’t buy each other gifts. We had dinner out and then came back and watched a movie with the kids.
1. Our school district has decided to buy school supplies for all students this school year. And our state (NY) has decided to offer free breakfast and lunch for all students this school year. This is a huge savings for our family!
2. We used snap peas and peppers from our garden to make a stir fried rice. We paired the rice with chicken drum sticks we got from Aldi for 50%.
3. We went camping this past week. We brought our own food and drinks. We brought our kayaks and launched them from our camp site for free. We went to the beach, which was included in the cost of the site ($15/night). We also toured an old war fort, which cost $8 for admission. Our neighbors left fire food at their site when they checked out, so some of our camp fires were free. We did go out to dinner at a winery that had live music one night, but overall a very frugal vacation.
4. I harvested the garlic from our garden
5. The company I work for gave us free lunch last week
Nice water-themed post this week! I'll have to try that someday with the boiling water.
1) This week we went to the grocery instead of the konbini for snacks over the weekend. This finally prompted me to assess our weekly grocery budget. Things have been weird with work travel all year and the credit card points game has things spread out so much between accounts I haven't made the effort to check. It was a little higher than I wanted but not crazy, so the spouse and I had a discussion about how we could tighten things a bit moving forward.
2) I got the bananas in the freezer before they went bad. One of the stores here sells bruised produce, but things go bad QUICK here, so it's necessary to get things frozen ASAP.
3) I've continued to use Freegal and YouTube for music since cancelling my Spotify subscription several weeks ago.
I think there were more, but that's all I can think of right now.
Right now hubby is down in Maryland helping our daughter clear out her apartment for a move back home. I'm a little worried about hubby doing this as he's not getting any younger, there is a heat advisory in place and daughter lives on the 4th floor in a walk up building. But he's rented the truck and they are taking it easy and taking breaks. With truck rental, hotel stay, gas and dinners it will be less expensive than a moving company.
Hubby's garden is producing. He has a tomato ripening in the front window, has gotten two cucumbers and pickled them in leftover pickle brine and got 2 squash. He had a volunteer pumpkin that he pulled out while it was still green. He thought it was an acorn squash. Nope, I could tell it was a pumpkin. He got the seeds out and replanted them and the pumpkin has turned orange.
Got a molar extracted and because I met my prescription deductible so far this year I got free antibiotics and pain pills. The antibiotic is causing an uproar in my gut but I've only got 1 more to go.
Reading a book from inter-library loan.
Purchased a Lands End shirt for $16.99. Will wear it til it falls apart.
Special savings: hubby put all the scrap wood that had accumulated in his wood shop and by the shed out for trash in small batches in the wheelbarrow. The trash guys picked them up for free. Love our trash guys!
I feel your pain. This is why I rarely buy 100% cotton t-shirts. I much prefer a small amount of Spandex for better shape. Unfortunately, t-shirts ordered for corporate functions, volunteering (e.g., Humane Society), etc., are always 100% cotton and not flattering at all.
I love the photo of Chiquita from yesterday where she was sleeping on the keyboard. Cats are THE best!
Hi, I just wanted to let you know that I spray my weeds in my driveway with a saturated salt solution. I have one of those pump-and-carry spray bottles, and it takes 1 kg of salt, but any saturated solution works well. This is great for slightly bigger areas, so you don't need to boil the kettle loads of times. This is also cheap, and no toxic poisons go into the water table. 🙂
1. I picked up several half days of virtual clinic coverage, during which time I was able to work on continuing education hours and catch up on various other tasks.
2. I shopped at Aldi before going to Walmart (I needed some things I knew only Walmart would carry). I was once again surprised at how much cheaper many things are at Aldi (cereal, strawberries). I also made a return at Walmart.
3. I happily used Catalog Choice to get both my mom and my MIL off of some junk mail solicitation lists. Less junk mail is not necessarily frugal, but it makes me happy. Catalog Choice is free to use.
4. Unhappily, my refurbished iPhone bit the dust suddenly and was unrepairable. I bought a new-to-me refurbished phone from Back Market (an older, cheaper phone) and a new-to-me case from eBay. It looks like I can sell the old phones we have around the house (how do we have 4!?!) via EcoATM which is located at Walmart. My crashed iPhone would have been worth $50-60, but after I reset it to get it ready to sell I’m no longer confident I will get anything for it. I’ll still try.
5. I redeemed a buy 10, get one free card at my favorite local coffee shop.
6. I used the free vacuums at the car wash to vacuum the car, and I found 3 pennies on the ground while doing so.
7. I picked up a free baby food pouch, mac and cheese, and pasta via either Social Nature or Aisle.
Water? Then I realized you meant HOT water, yes, that works. I use vinegar + water.
CHIQUITA is always there, love that.
Clean outdoor stair risers, what a good idea.
Yes! The water was boiling hot, literally. 🙂
We moved into a new house last year & the HVAC drips a lot of water. so I dug a reservoir to collect the water & use it to water my flower garden. The drain is too low to the ground to use a spigot or put a watering can under it so I had to dig down & place a container in the ground to catch the water. Then I scoop it out into a bucket....I debated whether or not it was really worth all this effort! But, I estimate that I've been collecting between 10 to 25 gallons every 24 hrs! I live in a very humid climate. So that's all the moisture the HVAC is pulling out of the air.
I've basically kept my garden watered all summer using this water. I've only had to use the garden hose once or twice when it was very dry & I didn't have enough water to take care of everything. I have to empty it twice a day when it's very humid so I plan to add a larger reservoir & see if I can let it go a few days before needing to empty it.
Frugal
I bought a bunch of marked down meat and threw it in the freezer. I will use one item per week for the next month.
The usual: making iced coffee at home. Using Libby and Kanopy for entertainment. Cooking and eating at home. Saying yes to any offers of garden produce from friends.
I'm late here. For some reason your FG email has not been showing up in my inbox. So here go my five things. I hope somebody will read them!
-- I colored my own hair. I figure it saves about $100 each time I do it. And I only do it quarterly.
-- don't know if this is frugal because I bought something, but I saved a bundle. I went to a high-end thrift store with my visiting s-i-l not intending to buy anything. But I found a beautiful, never-used summer The Sak crocheted purse for $8. A check online told me it is worth more than $100. It kinda had that thrift store “smell” so after checking online, I used some essential oil on a tissue inside the bag and put the whole purse in a plastic grocery bag with another essential oil tissue and let it sit for a few days. Then I gave it a few hours of sunshine and the funk is gone.
-- I froze some fresh mango that my s-i-l brought from Florida after I used some of it for a smoothie. It would have been too overpowering to use it all. I'll use it in another smoothie.
-- I donated a large bag of craisins so they weren't wasted. When I couldn't find raisins at Sam's, I bought craisins. It turns out I don't care for them as a sub for raisins. But I hated to waste them. I was able to donate them to a local feeding program even though the bag was opened.
-- I cut the top off a 2-liter soda bottle to make a funnel. Seems like we always need an extra funnel for something. I think I'm going to hang it in the garage for use out there.
I'm glad to see someone else who modifies tshirts! First thing i do is shorten mine because don't want anything enhancing my backside. Since i don't sew, except by hand, I use iron on fusion tape and it lasts forever.