Five Frugal Things | moldy cheese
Some of you will raise your eyebrows at what I did with my moldy Parmesan (see #4), but I promise, it's not crazy behavior. 😉 The USDA approves.
1. I got a pair of Altras for $32 on eBay
I occasionally check eBay to see if there are any deals on the shoes I like. I wear them for the gym, for trail walking, and for working at the hospital, so I like to have some backup pairs in my closet.
Anyway, I logged on the other day and saw a pair for $32. OH YES.
I hit "buy now" as fast as I could!
By buying them ahead of time, I can afford to be picky and wait around for a super duper good deal. And then I am never in a position where I am forced to pay full price.
2. I picked up some milk crates for free
Someone in my Buy Nothing group was offering two black milk crates, so I popped by to pick them up since she lives right by my college.
I'm going to use them to organize some items on a laundry room shelf.
3. I froze/ate all of my bruised peaches
Ok, well, not counting the ones I gave to Sonia!
These last two weeks, I ate peaches like they were going out of style. And I froze about two gallon bags' worth of sliced peaches for future smoothie-making purposes, so I didn't waste any peaches from the box.
Here's a little video I made four years ago (!) about how to freeze peaches. Apologies in advance for my not-so-good iMovie editing skills. Ha.
Also, here's a little rundown of my basic smoothie-making method.
4.I trimmed some moldy Parmesan
I know some of you will be horrified, but for hard cheese, it is safe to trim the moldy parts off and then use the rest of the cheese. (see this USDA page).
I trimmed off the mold, shredded the remaining cheese, and froze it (because if the cheese has started molding in one spot, I know it's just gonna grow more mold in the future if I leave it in the fridge!)
Frozen shredded Parmesan is so easy to use, even straight from the freezer; almost as easy as refrigerated shredded Parmesan.
5. I got another free scoop of ice cream
You know how I used the free scoop code Baskin Robbins had recently? Well, when I installed the app to use the code, they also loaded in a free scoop as a way of saying thanks for downloading the app.
So, I got myself another scoop of Jamoca Almond Fudge. 🙂
*I used the 61 cents off per gallon reward on a day that the gas station had randomly lowered their price by 30 cents per gallon. Saved over $14. Minivans hold a lot of gas. And then filled up he sedan's tank with the 30 cents off price. (Can only use rewards once).
*eating down the fridge and freezer,
*using the refillable cup I bought at the city pool at the beginning of summer for free ice water. Saved $1 every time we used it. (You can't bring your own drinks in.)
*went to expensive grocery store and only bought the things I wanted that were on sale. Those purchases earned me the gas rewards.
*fixed a picture frame that had fallen off the wall. The glass had stayed intact, so with only a few mishaps (the edge of the glass was sharper than i expected, ouch!), I got the frame back together.
@mbmom11, great gas savings!!
@Regina, gas just went from $3.25 to $3.59 this morning. Unfortunately I did not get to fill up before it went up. 🙁 Holiday weekend gas prices always increase.
@Regina, It's about $5.50 here. Yay.
@Regina,
We call that losing at gas pump bingo.
I rarely get gas rewards so I was floating on a high after that win!
@Regina,
Oddly, our local gas is $2.97/gallon as of this morning, which means it'll jump up to $3.70+ in a day or two. Taking a guess at the increased price, but this happens every holiday weekend.
@Liz B.,
I should have said, gas was about $3.27/gallon before this most recent drop.
@Rose, whoa that’s high
@mbmom11, when we had a dollar off from fuel rewards (several times) I would call my son to meet me at the gas station. Two smallish cars later, we hit the limit on what that would purchase. We sometimes had to jockey cars into position, but someone standing by the pump helps. You just have to remember to not hang up the nozzle until you get both cars. Once it was me, my son, and his house mate.
I feel like this is badly said.
@Kathleen in Kansas, l understood it perfectly
@mbmom11,
cudos on the gas savings!
@Kathleen in Kansas,
You're fortunate that you're allowed to fill more than one vehicle. We're limited to one vehicle and one 5 gal can when using points for gas savings.
@Kathleen in Kansas, Ditto
We are not overly worried of mold on cheese. If only a few specks - cut out mold and cut out thinly around the cheese, put in clean container, use as usual. If moldy all over (which rarely happens, that would be severe Cheese Mismanagement) cut away thickly, grate and freeze. Never had a belly ache or anything.
FFT:
-We listed some items for sale
-I caught seed from my annual flowers for next year
-A friend gifted prunes from her tree - they were very nice to eat just like that and I also made a tarte tatin
-Last Saturday we had torrential rain and now the containers are full again. I use the water for the flowers, and also to do scrub the pavement in the garden, clean the windows, rinse the flower pots etc.
-I wanted to buy a top for the office and discovered I had unused (almost expiring) loyalty points from when I bought clothes for a wedding some years ago. I bought the top for shipping costs only.
I also discovered an affiliate link from our local cat shelter to several webshops where we buy every now and again. This way I will be able to donate to the shelter at no cost to myself. Ofcourse I told the entire family and I will remind them again in December, when we have more than usual online purchases.
@JNL, It makes me sad that Amazon ended their “Smile” charity donation program. It was such an easy way to support our local animal shelter. I need to look to see if they have affiliate links.
@JNL, "Cheese Mismanagement" made me laugh!
@JNL,
That sounds like a purrr-fect way to donate! The kittycats will be very happy....but probably won't show it. They are cats, after all...
I always cut mould off bread and it's fine!
1. I needed a shoe rack and someone moving out left one behind.
2. I bought a pastry but decided to make coffee at home instead of buy one (yes, I know it would have been more frugal not to buy a pastry but I had a very stressful morning!)
3. I borrowed books from the library.
4. I saved cans for recycling vouchers.
5. Stumped on a last one - I got my teeth checked earlier and my recovery went well after wisdom teeth removal. I guess I saved money on potential dental issues!
@Sophie in Denmark, mold on bread is just penicillin!
Good for you, saving that cheese!
Every year the food pantry in the next town over holds a fundraiser. They sell sweet corn, straight from the farmer's fields, for $6 a dozen ears. I bought 2 dozen and froze almost all of it. Delicious corn all year.
I cut and dried a bunch of herbs from my garden. Herbs are so expensive to buy and except for the basil, these plants return every year, so it's like getting them for free.
I mended a pair of pajamas. I used a fancy ribbon for the patch so they make me smile every time I wear them now.
I harvested all the onions from the garden and dried the green tops to make onion powder.
We're doing a frugal getaway this week, camping for three nights at a state park. We're taking all our food and plan to hike and fish.
@Cindi, 2 dozen would last me about three days, ha! I go slightly mad around fresh corn on the cob.
@Cindi,
I am interested in knowing more about making onion powder. Do you fry the green top and then pulverize?
@Bee, I meant dry — spell check strikes again
@Bee, Yes, I dry them then pulverize them in the blender. It makes a very tasty green onion powder.
@Cindi, tell us more about drying the onion powderPLEASE
@Brendalynne, I spread the tops on a cookie sheet and dry them on the lowest setting in my oven.
1. Amazon asked me to do a survey about their Amazon Medical services, in exchange for a $15 gift card. The survey took me maybe fifteen minutes tops, so my "hourly wage" was $60, well worth my time.
2. Took a math exam to (hopefully) test out of having to take a math class as a prerequisite. While I had to pay to take my TEAS, the proficiency exams at my college are free thanks to a grant! Still waiting on the results, but it cost nothing to try.
3. Working on using up some chia seeds that I won't buy again; I can only tolerate a small amount at a time, so I won't buy them in the future. Using them in overnight oats since it's so hot here.
4. Hanging laundry outside or in the garage.
5. DH cooked burgers outside yesterday, even in the blistering heat, to avoid heating up the house. And he cooked enough beef to use in today's crockpot dinner. Bless him.
6. Snagged my favorite Arm and Hammer detergent on a B1G1 deal.
7. Refilled my fancy Dawn "easy squeeze" dish soap bottles with Kroger brand dish soap (on sale, of course, bought in the most economical size). I have heard people commenting that the new Dawn scent is horrible--my suggestion is to try the equivalent store brand. Kroger's version works just as well, IMO, for grease stains and such, and smells okay to me! Maybe it's still the old scent.
@Karen A., Dawn's new scent I believe is apple? I bought 1 on sale with coupon cost me $2 for squeeze bottle or liquid spray refill. I have not used yet, but my dad's partner liked it (I gifted the spray refill for camper). Dawn squeeze top lid fits on most other dish soap bottles as I have found out. It's easier than refilling bottle if fits full bottle. 😉
@Karen A.,
It sounds like you have things covered for school. However, PEO International offers grants to women going back to school after having a family or a life change.
https://www.peointernational.org/educational-support/program-for-continuing-education/
@Karen A., I refilled my bottle too!
Addendum after this morning: Biked to the library (10+ miles roundtrip) for exercise and to save on gas. Also: library books. I mostly filled and froze a big Rubbermaid chug bottle the night before, topping it off with water before I left, to avoid being tempted by the vending machines of water by the bike stop station.
@Bee, Thank you! I looked at the application form and will give it some thought. I probably wouldn't qualify given DH's salary, though we are putting two other kids through college, so maybe it's worth a shot.
And I nearly forgot! DH was cleaning out the garage and found a little corner whatnot shelf my grandfather made years ago--I was able to smuggle it out of my mom's house when I moved out. DH found a nice little place to put it right by my nightstand, so I can remember my grandpa whenever I look at it.
@Karen A., I look longingly at cheaper detergents but Dawn's maker, Proctor and Gamble, donated a lot of supplies to clean the oil off ducks after the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska after a researcher discovered that it was the most effective in cleaning oil off the animals caught in the spill. (Ironically the study was paid for by Chevron.) P&G continues to donate money and supplies to marine mammal centers. So, I continue to buy Dawn. I am surprised they don't make more out of what they did, and continue to do, to save wildlife.
@Lindsey,
Don't they put a cute duck in every commercial? I think they're so well known for it it's just part of their brand now.
@Lindsey, I remember that and I appreciate their work. And I do buy Dawn when my bottles wear out! They eventually look, well, grody even with wiping down. But I'd rather reuse the bottles as much as I can and save some money in the interim.
@Regina, alas! Dawn’s **new clean scent** is most definitely not apple… it’s a very strong perfumey smell. Unfortunately, I bought a huge bottle of what appeared to be the normal blue concentrated liquid and did not notice the new scent sticker. (I feel like any time I mention this l come across very cranky. So, I don’t mean it personally at you. just annoyed with why manufacturers have to overly perfume something that was just fine before they “improved” it). Beware!
@Jennifer C-L, I quite understand. I don't know the new one, just know I hate the smell of the old scent.
@Lindsey, want to know something more ironic? ExxonMobil (I think) was the original environmental activist when it comes to the oil and gas industry. They spent lots of money on research, discovered climate change, looked into solutions, and spread awareness. The only reason they stopped is because oil prices went up and they got a new boss around the same time. The new guy cut research budgets to preserve their profits and no one ever started it back up. Eventually, they started their cover up campaign. I was baffled when I found out a gas company was the first to bring awareness to the issue.
I loved the video about freezing peaches and plan to do the same. I have definitely been guilty of freezing them in one big block. I was wondering what your thoughts were about using Fruit Fresh or something similar? When I have frozen peaches in the past, they turned brown and not very appetizing.
I freeze mine just plain on a baking sheet and they don't turn brown. When I take them off the baking sheet even 24 hours later, they're still orange. Yours go brown in the freezer?
@Kristen, Yes! And they look so unappetizing. Now that I think about it, they had been in there a long while so maybe that's why they turned brown.
Re: Kristen's #4: If trimming the mold off hard cheese and then eating the cheese were fatal, I'd have been dead long ago!
Now, FFT, Filthy Lucre/Garage Saling Edition ("simulcast" here and at the NCA):
(1) I found a $20 bill in a storm drain during my Monday morning walk. Without hesitation, I reached in, rescued it, and cleaned it up as best I could after returning home. It still bears the marks of its ordeal, but it's still legal tender. (And I survived sticking my hands into a storm drain, too. That which does not kill me makes me stronger--and in this case, $20 richer.)
(2) I took advantage of Saturday's perfect weather to hit some garage sales, for only about the third time this summer. My best find was a small, lovely old coffee table that fits right into the current arrangement of my living room. The old table, which I've had since before DH and I were married, has taken up a bit too much room for years. (But since I'm sentimental about the big old thing, I've moved it to another location in the house where it'll be less of a knee-knocker.)
(3) Other finds at the two garage sales I concentrated on included a case of brand-new Golden Harvest quart canning jars; enough votives and other small candles to see me through a good portion of the winter (I like to light a candle or two in the predawn darkness); a pie plate and a rolling pin, each with its own wicker holder, for Ms. Bestest Neighbor (pie maker extraordinaire); five books; and some other odds and ends. Total expenditure, including the coffee table, was about $50.
(4) I also stopped at several Little Free Libraries on the way to and from the sales, putting in four books and taking one. So my net gain on books was only two. And one of the garage sale books was the autobiography of a local heroine, Ruth Colvin--literacy leader and Presidential Medal of Freedom winner--who died a few days ago at age 107.
(5) Finally, I turned off the AC the minute it stopped raining last week and I could reopen the windows. Haven't had to turn it back on since then, and I hope I won't have to again.
@A. Marie, For a present for a friend, I had a pie tin custom engraved with "Mrs. Lastname's Delicious Pies." (She never changed her name when she got married but Mrs. Lastname sounded more fun and old fashioned.) It hangs in her kitchen.
@A. Marie,
That is quite a haul for $50. I have been looking for a replacement for my too big coffee table for quite sometime. It should be easy, but I just can’t find what I want. Maybe if I quit looking it will show up.
@A. Marie, I have a question. Have you attended the Madison-Bouckville Antique Show. If so, what do you think?
@Bee, yes, DH and I attended Madison-Bouckville for years, back when we were actively collecting British royal commemoratives. I haven't been to the August show since 2014, when we decided to call it quits because his memory was failing, my knees were complaining, and most of our favorite commemorative dealers had aged out of the business.
But Grad School BFF and I went to the May/June show when she visited earlier this year, and we had a very good time. I recommend this show because it's smaller and more manageable than August, and because the weather is usually cooler and better.
@A. Marie,
I did not know there was a May/ June show. I have known about Brimfield for years and years, but I just recently heard about this marketplace. It looks like it’s huge!!!!
@Bee, I don't think that even the August M-B show is bigger than Brimfield. But it's only 30 miles or so east of me, and it worked for DH and me for many years.
@Rose,
That sounds like an awesome gift! A friend of mine gave me a red ceramic pie plate with "Liz's pie goodness" inscribed on it.
SAVE THE PARM RIND! It's so good in soups, etc.
Yes, in my college botany class, I learned aaall about molds, and yes, on hard cheese, you can cut off the moldy part because the mold only grows on the cut side. Soft cheeses, you can't cut the mold off--even if you can't see it, it's there, because the softness means the mold spreads throughout.
@Rose, It is so hard to find cheese with a rind any more. I specifically look for cheese with rind at stores & markets & rarely find one with a rind. My best luck is at Amish grocery stores occasionally find 1 or 2 at best.
@Rose,
YEs, Parm rind for the win in minestrone! It takes a lot of effort by the way to let parmesan go mouldy. It is such a hard cheese - it only ages further!
Around here, the schmancy shops sell parm rinds on their own. We generally have one or two around, since we eat a lot and Daughter gets sarcastic about buying grated cheese. I don't know where she gets the nitpicky fussbudget personality from.
@Rose,
Finicky would be preferable to the celiac of my daughter; pre-grated cheese is often exposed to or even contains gluten in the dry mix that keeps the cheese from sticking.
1. Built some dividers for my daughter's dresser drawer using material I already had on hand so a cost of zero.
2. Used McDonald's points to get my kid a free Happy Meal. She liked the Hello Kitty toy and who doesn't love Hello Kitty? I am sad that she's grown out of a lot of things recently (growing up is hard on everyone!) but that is life.
3. Enjoying more Tubi now lately. It's honestly better than Netflix in terms of choices but some titles have too many commercials in my view.
4. Using our Six Flags season pass. This was a great value even if we've only been 3 times (we are planning on going at least once more if we can.)
5. Doing the usual stuff like line drying clothes (I'll be sad when summer ends and very sad when the Hell that is winter comes) and using the air fryer vs the whole oven.
@Battra92, I once flew purely by chance on a flight to Asia that was entirely Hello Kitty themed. The plane had a HK design on the outside, the food had little designs, the silverware was HK, even the lap blankets and pillows. Even as someone who was never into HK, it was kind of magical. Ever since then I'm always a little disappointed when I fly on a regular, non-Hello Kitty plane.
@Battra92, I thought about you this week for 2 reasons - first, I saw an event at a brewpub that was for bereaved fathers - free dinner for the dad and a guest (Seven Sirens Brewing Co in Easton PA in case they do it again and it's anywhere near you). It sounded like a great idea; hope it spreads.
And also - thank you for telling me about Tubi! It's actually had some things we've really enjoyed watching, and I wouldn't have looked without your recommendation.
Let's see:
1. Since Son, the crabby meat-eater, is going to Virginia for the weekend I plan to indulge in a lot of vegetarian meals. mmmm.
2. Can't find my beach shoes for bay beach; wore jellies instead of buying new. (Bay beach is rocky and hurts my feet; ocean beach is sandy.)
3. Though come to think of it, planning chiles rellenos for dinner tomorrow and there's no meat there.
4. Handyman fixed latest leak for free.
5. I GO TO THE BEACH FOR FREE! Might as well enjoy the upsides of life here, after dealing with all the tedious celebrity parties.
@Rose, uh oh, Son has caught wind of the chiles rellenos. Guess it'll wait till he's gone, heh.
@Rose, #5, rub it in. . . BUT I GET TO GO TO THE MOUNTAINS FOR FREE. So there.
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, Eh, I don't like mountains that much. For many years my inlaws had a mountain cabin I could go to for free. Whoop de doo.
--My daughter informed me that all her socks had holes and I needed to buy her new ones. Investigation into her sock drawer, however, revealed that only her white socks were wearing out. She had half a dozen pairs of really nice colored socks my MiL had bought her that she somehow thought were only for church. They are now her daily socks, and I didn't have to buy any.
--I continue to try to maximize the calories my son is taking in. Drinking calories helps with this, but he still can't stomach milk. He likes ginger ale, but I don't like buying it. Thankfully, he also likes decaffeinated iced tea with maple syrup and heavy cream. I buy the tea in bulk, so that comes out to maybe five cents per glass, as opposed to almost a dollar per can for the ginger ale.
-- Just before a start-of-school cold hit our house, I had bought 18 handkerchiefs. They were less than a dollar each, which is more than the little cloths I cut from old t-shirts or whatever and typically keep in a basket in the dining room for runny noses, but they're also bigger and thinner, and so a little easier to use. Definitely cheaper than disposable tissues, as well.
--Middle son has started FFA (Future Farmers of America) this year, which has a standard dress outfit of black pants, black shoes, white shirt. I had all of this from the older boy, so I didn't need to buy it for the middle one.
--We finally have grass in the pastures, thanks to the four inches of rain we got a few weeks ago, so we haven't had to buy hay for the sheep and horses. Hooray.
@kristin@going country, My DH likes ginger ale too. I am experimenting with making the ginger syrup/concentrate; mixing it with aerated water gets a good drink, according to the web sites I'm looking at. Concentrate flavors aren't hard to make, especially for a quantity, and you can mix them up in 2-quart pitchers.
@Kristina, That's a good idea. We don't really drink soda here, but Daughter loves a super spicy Jamaican ginger beer now and then.
Good save on the cheese! I do that too.
1. I couldn’t believe my engine light came on this past Sunday after just getting the engine replaced. I took it to the shop and it was just a ventilator hose that had worked loose. The man put it back, better, at no charge.
2. I needed to replace the elderberry the mower girdled but I didn’t have time to stop at the natives nursery. I finally did and they were having a summer’s end sale and 25% off! I got 4 for little more than the price of one. Procrastination can pay at times.
3. My visiting sister gifted me with border edging to protect my new plants from the mower, ha.
4. My daughter requested my homemade cupcakes for her birthday. They are just vanilla with buttercream frosting but she loves them. Simple and cheap to make! I have all the ingredients, even the powdered sugar for the frosting.
5. I dried all my laundry on the line and rack again and my sister throws hers in with mine and hangs hers to dry too.
@JD, Once your elderberries take off, you can easily propagate more by taking cuttings and putting them in water until they root, or even just stick the cuttings in the ground.
@JD, on the rare occasions when I buy plants these days, I always look for off-season sales. So I applaud your #2. And your #3 from your sister is a very thoughtful gift.
@JD, When I read your first sentence, I thought it said “God save the Cheese” & I literally lol’ed!!!
I also love anything Jamoca!
You are not alone in doing that to cheese, AND I have lived after doing it for years. I actually try to throw extra shredded cheese in freezer so doesn't get moldy as sometimes I go on not using certain fresh foods that I just stocked up on, like cheese.
Anyway, Frugal things---
● too hot (in Michigan) for free coffee Monday (Meijer app) so instead used some of my reward points for free slushie 😉 (almost 100 degrees it was nice to have something cold while teen did final road test)
● teen did final road test (found cheapest $60 instead of $80+ every where else) & passed (first time trying)
● got weekend special on lunch meat (5.98/pound compared to $9.98/pound) & combined with coupons & reward points, paid $2.99/pound for Roast beef
● gave away most of monthly veggie box to neighbor (not much we liked this time) who helps mow front yard grass when does own grass. Neighbor won't take $ but will take food 🙂
● ordered grill top accessorie for campfire pit & got storage/carry bag for 30% off & free shipping. Then found out had $23 reward points available & applied to order. $100 total & lifetime (of company) warranty. Looks like will last long time & will be here before this (holiday) weekend. 🙂
Frugal fail---
● I didn't leave the house last week on day I could save $0.35/gallon on gas to make it $2.99 (not $1.99 as I typed wrong price/number), but I did get at end of week for $3.05 So not all was lost.
● had breakfast at favorite breakfast restaurant for teen birthday & not only had prices increased, we both were sick afterwards. 🙁 $38 to be sick will most likely not happen again.
Years ago you used to find milk crates everywhere. They are kind of scarce now, so good job on scooping those up.
I fixed some too salty homemade soup by adding some plain cooked rice. Also added in some white beans from the fridge -- yum!
Did some sewing to take up the side seams of a blouse that was too large. Took advantage of the heat wave to rack dry laundry on the back porch. Used coupons for pate cat food and cranberry juice.
@Ruby, One of the reasons you don't see milk crates much is because they're expensive and people constantly steal them. They're not just free storage; they're theft.
And before I get yelled at, obviously I'm not dissing Kristen because obviously she didn't steal them.
@Rose, What do people keep their 33 record albums in these days?
That's what I always think of as the use for milk cartons.
@Heidi Louise, they sell cheaper made milk crates & wooden crates at stores. I used to have wire/metal sized milk crates that worked very well & easier to see items inside.
LIVING THE FRUGAL LLIFE IS AN ADVENTURE TO ME:
Like you,I often purchase my favorite shoes,(Vionics, ) on ebay. I have to wear a shoe with a solid arch support and Vionics work best but are VERY pricey.I also found an almost new pair at my local consignment store recently for $8. (They would be $110 new!!!!) Many people buy vionics and don’t’ like them,as the arch support is rather hefty and a bit rigid.. so they sell them… IT WORKS FOR ME!!
I have a pair of custom made foot orthotics but have recently had some foot pain.Called the man who made them and he offered to re- adjust them for FREE! YAY!
Free /cheap dates: Husband and I went to our favorite swimming hole, to the library, and to a $5 movie this month. I also love AT HOME DATES of Italian dinner, pretty plates,candles, and Dean Martin on my spotify app.BETTER than a restaurant! No tipping and no wait staff calling us “you guys” and no LOUD MUSIC,so we can actually TALK to one another.
Cleanded up my freezer and found all kinds of fun stuff to eat in the next few weeks! Very little prep and using up what’s good before it expires! Today’s dinner is a defrosted container of CHICKEN TORTILLA SOUP with some olive bread slices..all frozen items I had forgotten about!
Life is good.
@Madeline,
Yes! What’s up with all the loud music in restaurants these days? I’ve asked several to turn it down, very politely) and some have, but why do it? For this reason, we love to go to places with garden seating, which of course limits you to the warmer months.
Our town and environs have oodles of eateries with outside seating so lots available. In fact, in the three warm months, selected streets are blocked off each weekend, in rotation, to give all of the restaurants a chance at doubling their customers. Best idea ever! We love it.
I've been sick since Friday so it doesn't feel like a lot of frugality going on here.
- DH made baked potatoes for me when food sounded horrible. I had one for dinner and another for lunch on Monday. A lot of meals this weekend were "fend for yourself" eating out of the frig/freezer/pantry so lower grocery bill this week.
- Changed the thermostat at house we're selling to 75 degrees instead of 72 degrees now that it's under contract to help reduce electrical bill. Realtor has recommended it be set at 72 degrees for showings.
- Reviewed our health insurance benefits, and we have met our out-of-pocket deductible so prescriptions and copays should now be no cost to use for the rest of the year.
- Added small item to Chewy order we needed to receive free shipping.
- Brought lunch to work most days.
Not frugal - I rarely go out to lunch but did last week and I was in sticker shock. I had a French dip sandwich with fries and drank water, and the bill with tip was $25!
@Beverly, I know, it's crazy! Beware of some restaurants now adding service fees (not included as tip which is separate) & some have now automatically stated adding (their thought of amount) tip to your bill. Hope your French dip sandwich was good, that's one of my favorites.
@Regina, it’s awful! That used to be reserved for large parties only. Now they seem to be doing it even for a party of one or two. Often it’s 18% and the service is lacking.
I took my sister to lunch a few weeks ago when she took care of Calico kitty and Rescue Pup for me. Two salads, two glasses of water, and 18% added tip. $64!
@Regina, we ate out Saturday night. Bartender said the amount, music wasn't loud, loud but face it, you don't hear as well when you get older. She went to repeat it and saw better half had cash. The charge was lower - while better half is in WI more than I am, he said he's seen the automatic plastic charge quite a bit. Saved us a couple of bucks, I'm not complaining. Better half has also seen the tip percentages listed on a receipt - at one establishment, the top percentage was 7%, lowest was 2% - I kid you not. He brought home the receipt as proof.
But cash is king, no matter how hard they try.
mmmmm..... Jamocha Almond Fudge is one of my faves too!
I've been consciously eating down our pantry and fridge. There have been some creative meals, but it feels good to free up space.
Doing the usual - making coffee and meals at home, making what we have work (not getting new tools for one job) , batching errands, buying used as much as possiblewhen we cannot avoid a purchase.
I did score big for my workplace! I found a place that sells paper for much lower than I can find in big box stores. In addition, they were offering 40% off the already low prices. I was able to get 8 cases (we use a LOT of paper ) for the price of 3. I enjoy saving money for the nonprofit I work for!
@Cheryl 90, Arby's Jamocia shake is a favorite of mine.
Just a Frugal Fail: Did a big household/cleaning items shopping at Target and then used the wrong card at checkout – my red ATM/Debit bank card instead of the look-alike Red Target Card. I was distracted by an incredibly chatty (and funny) checkout clerk and lost out on the 5% discount, which would have been a whopping … $5.54. I'm trying to not beat myself up over this, but I was really upset when I looked at the receipt and realized I used the wrong card.
@JDinNM, Dude. Don't beat yourself up over $5.54! It was just a simple mistake when you were distracted. Relax, life is too short to worry about five damn bucks.
@Rose, Not according to this blog!
@JDinNM, Listen, don't make me fly to NM and slap some sense into you!
@JDinNM, if it makes you feel better, I spent a heinous amount of money this week!
My (ex) mother-in-law used to bring chips and dip out into the living room and say, "I just scraped a little mold off the top." Hard cheese, maybe -- anything else, NOPE.
My mother used to buy parmesan cheese from an Italian grocery store whenever she went into the city. She would grate it just as you have and freeze it. I never do this and I don’t know why. Here are this weeks FFT:
1. My granddaughter will be celebrating her 1st birthday soon. The theme for her party is “One in a Melon.” Even the cake is in the shape of a watermelon. I purchased a dress on Etsy for my sweet granddaughter to wear with a watermelon print. This wasn’t particularly frugal. However, it supported a small business owner/craftsperson and it did not feed the commercial clothing trade. Best of all, it is really beautifully made.
2. I picked up some books that were offered on BN. I know the member who made this offer is a voracious reader, so I offered her some books that I had. It ended up being a nice trade. What’s more, I met someone in my community that I hadn’t met before.
3. On the way home, I stopped at the library to return two books and picked up a book that I had on hold - The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club. This is by the same author who wrote Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand which was wonderful. So I have high hopes. I also dropped off two current magazines in the library’s share bin.
4. One of my eldest son’s oldest and best friends was married this past weekend. The boys have been friends since they were 4 when they were on the same soccer team. That was 34 years ago. We all made the trek from Florida to the Carolinas for the wedding. There was limited hotel space available in this little mountain town, and it was very expensive. So we rented a house along with 16 people - 6 sixty-somethings, 6 thirty- somethings, 4 children under 3, and 3 big dogs. It was much less expensive and we all chipped in for food, water, and coffee. It was a bit chaotic but a lot of fun. I was tired when I returned home and slept 10 hours last night.
5. I wore two dresses that I already had to the wedding and the welcome party. I kept and scanned all receipts to Fetch. My sister graciously took care of Calico Kitty. I used the Libby App to download a book to listen to while on the road. I packed car snacks and water and we only made one Starbucks stop.
6. Bonus - My dear neighbor offered me a passion vine start. I’m excited about this. I’ve wanted one for a while. The pollinators love these. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passiflora
Wishing everyone peace, good health, and prosperity
@Bee, as a fellow grandmother, I firmly believe that grandchildren birthdays are permission to be non-frugal and love every minute.
@Bee, I can't wait to request that book as I loved Major Pettigrew's Last Stand. Thanks.
@Bee, thanks for #3. I just put it on hold at my library!
I place a small cloth dampened with vinegar inside the container of cheese to prevent mold
@Spring,
!
Will try
@Spring, That's an old trick! Thanks for reminding us.
@Spring, thank you for the hack - will definitely try it.
1. I made all our meals at home. We brewed coffee at home. My daughter made muffins from scratch.
2. I accepted free games and toys for my kids.
3. I got free treats at work.
4. I finally arranged to have the hitch added to my car for free. It's a new car, so that's not frugal, but part of the deal with a free hitch + installation. In our area, new cars and used cars are still almost the same price - the warranty was the deciding factor.
5. I made a cake for scratch for an event that my kid went to instead of buying an allergy-safe cupcake from the store. Now, I also have a restock of treats in the freezer for my kids. The cupcakes at the store are about $8+ plus each to accommodate the kid's allergies.
This is my kids' last week home before school starts, so we are diving into the freezer to use up random things out of the freezer because it's easier to clean it out when it's empty! Yesterday was a couple of frozen egg rolls, and today is chicken nuggets and cheese ravioli. Slow progress is still progress!
1. DH needed to replace his Chacos after umpteen years of hard wear. He compared the sale section of the Chacos website and eBay, and ended up finding a new pair on eBay for about half the price that he liked better. But he was unconvinced that he should let me buy them and go through Rakuten because it would only be 10 cents or so rebate.
2. I’ve failed to find replacement products for my Deva Curl hair products, despite several years of trying various things. I ordered a few from the Deva Curl website and a quick search online yielded a code for 15% off. Even better: a few of the products I wanted were available from Ulta on a rare sale, basically half off. Of course I also went through Rakuten.
3. I redeemed a coupon from Papa Murphy’s for a free pizza. I received this after giving them some feedback after a poor experience.
4. I redeemed a coupon received in the local junky advertisements for a free car wash. I do always flip through the junk mail because there’s occasionally something worth having, and this was one of those times!
5. The biggest one: I had interviewed for a half-time position on a whim since my current job as an on-call NP doesn’t give me enough hours or any consistency seeing patients. I ended up turning down the half-time job offer due to the schedule not being a good fit for our family, but ended up converting it to an on-call position instead. And now my current job has created a 0.2 FTE position for me, one day weekly (after years of discussion and them saying they wanted me more regularly)! So I’ll have a regular weekly day at my clinic, and also be able to pick up additional shifts at the new job. I’m super grateful. It’s not really about the regular income, although that is always welcome… it’s more about me being able to do a job I love on a regular basis versus being home full time with the kiddos. I find I'm a better mama when I'm able to work outside the home part time.
1. I have an idea of organizing my sheet sets up in the cabin. I have two sets for every bed so when guests ask what they can do to help, I tell them to strip the bed, throw them into the laundry and make up with a new set. The hitch in the plan is many of the different size sheets are the same color. Errhhhh! So I am going to pull out my old Viking Rose and reteach myself to to embroider on each sheet a K, Q, D or S. Then to attempt cutesy drawstring bags to keep the sets separate. We retired folk have some time, let me tell you. The frugal bit is I borrowed my friend's serger she hasn't used it for 20 years. I told her when she is ready to use it, I'll give her a tutorial. ( I have to learn first.)
2. Same friend took me to Costco to check out some replacement sheets. Kirkland is listed as a buy from Consumer Reports. They didn't have the size and the traffic and crowds there were a nightmare. Yeah. Never doing Costco again. My friend did buy me a $1.50 hot dog. Still, never again. I prefer second hand, thrifted, consigned except for bedding. I ended up with a nice discount set .
3. In preparing for a house guest, I tackled DS (boy sweaty room). He is back off to college. I cleaned the mattress with an deodorizing enzyme and Oxiclean, Now I will deep clean his comforter. I'll keep the new bedding for guests only.
4. I am swinging buy Mom's more often now ( she is 89 and doing great on her own.) I will help declutter a closet. I might pick up a few things, run to the thrift store to donate the rest.
5. Since I'll be in Mom's town, I'll do a thrift sweep on a dinnerware scavenger hunt.
@mary ann, costco.com can be lots easier to navigate than the store. Their return policy is so good that if you try the sheets and don't like them, simply return.
@mary ann,
I’m a Costco shopper, but I have learned to shop at times when the store is usually not busy -Wednesday morning @ 10:00am usually works for me. Saturday is an absolute nightmare as is Sunday after church.
@mary ann, you can bundle sheet sets inside one of the pillowcases if you want to skip the drawstring bag set. (You'll still need to find a way to mark the size.)
@maryann organizing sheets is a total hassle. Good for you! We once rented a vacation home where the linen closet was just utter chaos, and it was impossible to find a matching set. It did give the beds a kind of eclectic look though.
Being big on pasta has its advantages, as we eat our Parmesan too quickly for it to mold ever 🙂 Soft cheese on the other hand, we never finish before it spoils, for some reason. But how is something like Gouda classified, hard or soft?
1. Bought new boots for my kids in two different sizes which they could try on at home as they absolutely hate going shopping. While buying the boots I also received a bonus offer which I used on new sandals for myself when I returned the other pair of boots promptly, as my old Birkenstocks are breaking apart (literally, the cork is breaking apart!).
2. For a birthday - end of summer celebration, I baked a cake and my husband cooked ribs at home. A bit expensive but far less than for all of us to go out and eat together.
3. Did not buy new backpacks for the kids or even back-to-school clothes. I will update the wardrobe on a as-needed basis and have been doing some thrifting which the kids do like, but it is always a hit and miss.
4. Been saving up extra coffee from the pot into a jar in the fridge, which I use for ice coffee in the afternoons.
5. My neighbor gets a food delivery with too much garlic for her, which she gifted me. Like with parmesan, we go through SO much garlic 🙂
Kristen, such useful topics you always bring to the table! I would trim mold from any hard cheese, too.
But in the case of Parmesan, I shred the whole block within a day or two of bringing it home and grab what I need from the freezer container, as you say. This avoids getting the mold.
If I have a charcuterie board planned that week, I save a part or all of the block in the fridge.
And, oh yeah! I save the rinds in a separate bag to throw into soups and stews for the heavenly but subtle flavor boost.
I cut away moldy or bruised parts of food all the time. The exceptions are what I do throw away rather than what I don't.
I bought new shoes, saving money by buying the clearance versions and using slow shipping.
I bought a book rather than driving 30-40 min to get it from the library - I "need" it now to take it on a trip. The online used pb was $11 and I'd forgotten about a $10 coupon I had.
The $10 coupon was from filling out a survey.
I found a way to use a kilo of fine wool yarn I've had for ... um ... a long time. The answer is to make Hats for the Homeless with it as a go-to travel project. So I turned it into skeins (a lot of them!) because who wants to carry a whole kilo of yarn.
1. I sundried more tomatoes from our garden. I used some over-ripe bananas to make banana bread for my kids. I used herbs from my garden in an egg bake for my lunch this week.
2. I picked up some pants and shirts off Buy Nothing for my son. They will fit him next year or the year after that.
3. I injured my shoulder weightlifting. My PCP referred me to see a physical therapist. I have been diligent about doing my exercises that the PT prescribed. If the therapy is not successful, I may be facing surgery which is much more costly than physical therapy.
4. My husband installed a new door to our garage. The old door I posted on Facebook Marketplace for free and someone came to get it. This saved us the cost of disposing of it (our garbage service does not include construction waste) but is also better for the environment.
5. My husband will give my son a haircut tonight before school starts next week. My husband cuts my son's hair and his own hair, which saves us at least $40 monthly
@Corrine, and if surgery, possibly more PT after it.
So coincidentally! I trimmed off moldy cheese just a few days ago.
My Frugal 5’s
1) Had free pizza buffets for my kids with coupons they got through their school’s reading program. Used them to celebrate the last day of summer before school starts. Just needed to pay for 1 adult entry meal.
2) My middle child had a birthday week where we took her to the splash pad with playground and the local river to swim for free.
3) She’s also into Sailor Moon so got a subscription off Netflix for $7 with ads to watch the new Sailor Moon Cosmos movie which is a big savings versus going to the movie theaters which would’ve cost use $30 for the whole family on $5 discount movie Tuesdays. I plan on canceling the subscription before the renewal.
4) In addition, we borrowed DVDs and books from the library I knew my birthday girl would love like those of Sailor Moon, Miraculous, Wonder Woman, and rocks.
5) Also gave her inexpensive gifts like a Wonder Woman costume I got last year after Halloween for a couple dollars, a Polly pocket unicorn that was $10 (discounted more than half off from the Walmart sale aisle because of torn packaging), and a rock collection kit got for less off Amazon discount for a few dollars less than the original because of a rip on the box which I easily mended. The rocks and everything else in it looked brand new.
- Cooked from home, ate food from the fridge, used Ibotta and Fetch, batch run errands to save on gas, fixed/mended clothes and broken toys.
Let's see
-Made an effort to use the AC less. Last months bill was a doozie (highest we've ever seen it by $100). This month we were back to what we would normally expect at this time of year
-Requested the next book club book from the library
-Dehydrated some plums that were on the overripe side
-Last night we roasted a 16lb ham. Tonight we will break it down and slice some w/ the deli slicer we got for Christmas, dice some, and thick (-er than deli) slice some for future breakfast sandwiches
That's about all I can think of.
Nice! Frozen cheese was a standard item when I was feeding just myself. I bought big budget blocks which I shredded and froze. It was perfect in pasta, pizza, and egg dishes.
My FFT:
-We bought my daughter her birthday gifts early to take advantage of sales/FB marketplace
-I picked up extra work to funnel money into our down-payment fund. I feel like I claim it on FFT often, but it's probably the most frugal thing I do (while also being the thing I find most burdensome.)
-We needed a new printer so I shopped around and found one on sale
-We gratefully accepted leftovers from the dinner my mom made us on Sunday
-I am stuck at home with a vicious cold and I am not indulging in any expensive quackery; just rest, over-the-counter meds for symptom management, and lots of fluids.
1. OF COURSE I cut mold off cheese and use what remains—did so 2 days ago.
2. Bought 2 pillowcases from LLBean for $10 instead of $40 because they sent a coupon, I had "Bean Bucks", and shipping is free because our Mastercard is through them.
3. I shrunk the size of the lawn because the sprinklers don't reach one end very well. I dug out a bunch of bermuda grass, transplanted clumps of good grass from an abandoned area. (This is a very long-term project to have one great-looking lawn without spending any money.)
4. I'm paying better attention to clothing to get spots out, because apparently I am a careless and sloppy chick. (and perhaps could use better lighting in the laundry room)
5. My friend with the unused continuous glucose monitor gave me another diode after the first one only lasted 4 days of the supposed 14. This time we read the box, and learned that it expired 2 years ago. Oh well, it is free to me and I'll gratefully take whatever number of days I can squeeze out of the thing.
Wisconsinite here. We know cheese. You are right; hard cheeses are fine if you slice off small portions of mold. Freezing is a good idea. If you put it back in the refrigerator, use a new container. The old one will contain mold spores.
Most hard cheeses freeze and thaw well. I have a shelf in my basement freezer designated for cheese!
@Daisy, there is a WI dairy we frequent a few times a year. Now that the kiddos are grown, we don't take the big cooler we used to take. It can also make a nice day trip if we feel the urge for more dairy.
A cut of meat we like went on sale, so we bought seven pounds.
I knit some wash cloths.
We ate up all of our leftovers.
I worked hard to get peach stains out of my daughters clothing. These outfits should fit for the next several months.
I didn't buy some clothing that almost fit. It was on sale but I didn't love them.
Frugal fail: I tried to take in a skirt but the elastic was sewn in strangely.
@Rebekah in SoCal, good call on not buying the "almost fits" clothing. I've made that mistake before. If I don't love something, I don't get it. It has cut way down on those things I never wear (although there was a bit of a sale catalog shorts accident early in summer. . .)
1. I filled up at Kroger using accumulated fuel points to save $0.30/gallon. These were about to expire and it so happened that my tank was very nearly empty so I got the max savings that I could get. I love when that happens!
2. I shopped around for a griddle, tarp, propane tanks and a canopy that we needed for our upcoming camping trip. I ended up finding the exact griddle I wanted for $97 @ Walmart rather than paying the $170 that Dick's was charging. I also found the canopy at Walmart for $79 instead of $149 @ Dick's. Academy and Amazon also had the same high prices for these items. Shopping around pays off sometimes.
3. I batch cooked this weekend and prepared breakfast items, lunch items, and dinner items. One day spent in the kitchen will keep us from getting takeout, have us eating healthy meals, and save us money.
4. Recent sales on ground turkey and all varieties of chicken have us eating a lot of chicken and turkey. Who can resist lean ground turkey for BOGO? Not me. We may grow feathers soon but my freezer is well stocked for great prices.
5. I made coffee at home, used items in my freezer and pantry to make meals and snacks, ran full loads of laundry. Basic stuff but every penny counts.
Oh my gosh, same same over here with the peache! It's peach season in Colorado and I'm trying to brain storm all the peach recipes I can think of. Plus we're just eating sliced peaches all the time. (So what I'm saying: your peach freezing video is *perfect timing!* haha)
Moldy cheese is one of the most irritating things I deal with. I have read that it is important to avoid touching cheese so I try to to slice or grate while keeping the wrapper in place. I have tried the vinegar and cloth with no success. I do cut the mold off of hard cheeses. When I belonged to a food co-op in the 80's/90's, the line was "If mold won't eat my cheese, then neither will I."
Speaking of cheese, I haven't done the math, but I bought a two pound package of grated mozzarella that was on sale and cheaper than the blocks, same weight this morning. This is the time of year I get a hankerin' for white veggie lasagne. I salvaged two egg plants from the Misfits box by cutting off the soft spots applying plastic wrap and, Lord willing, will make the lasagne Wednesday, when I reach my day off. I'm well aware of the anti-caking (starch) in the grated cheese but it will not make a difference in this application.
Filled up with gas in the town I work in @ $3.14. Was $3.29 here for a long time, but now it is down to $3.19.
Finally used a four year old $15.00 gift card my old neighbors gave me for PetSmart. That is one place I don't need to shop. The prices are higher than everywhere else in town. I also ordered some stuff from Chewy. I did NOT add more to the list to get free shipping. Did not need more and would just have cost more to buy more with the flat $4.98 shipping fee.
The usuals: chai latte at home, made my own distilled water to drink, batched errands.
Consider yourself an influencer, as I just redownloaded the Baskin-Robbins app!
Not a whole lot different this week as far as frugality goes, but:
1. Ran out of brown sugar while making banana nut bread from the overripe bananas, and had the ingredients to make some homemade. (regular cane sugar and molasses)
2. Cashed in the Rakuten check this month--a whopping $15.44. Really, I think it's the biggest one to date.
3. Had some tubes of sour cream from deli food brought to us by a friend, and this went into the banana bread, too. (This awesome recipe uses sour cream and cream cheese, and it is soooo moist!)
4. Scored a quart jar of home canned green beans from another member in the gifting group.
5. Bought root beer float vanilla ice cream on a whim, as hubby loves root beer floats, but it wasn't that good. Posted it in the gifting group and someone scooped (!) it up for her sons, so I didn't have to toss it.
also, if anyone has small bits of cheese they don't know what to do with, grind all different kinds togetther, add some white wine, a garlic clove or so and pepper and salt. Then spread on good bread and broil. That is fromage fort and it is faaaabulous.
@Rose,
It sounds heavenly. Somthing like a Welsh Rarebit but just not with ale?
Oh I totally trim the mold off the Parm! I use it frequently enough that I always have it, but not so much that it gets used within a week or so. I will usually also shred it up and freeze what I don't use in the meal that night. Caco e pepe is a great way to use up lots of shredded Parm and is tasty and easy:) For my own frugal win, my son had friends coming over last minute and I was able to load up member savings coupons from our local grocery store chain to get frozen pizza and chips at 50% off. I don't buy frozen pizza often so this savings was very appreciated as frozen pizza got EXPENSIVE! But I was feeding 5 teenage boys and felt the savings I would have had by making it myself was not worth having to make enough pizza by hand to feed teenage boys especially with only a few hours notice:) It would have been a LOT of pizza let me tell you!
Note for cheese lovers: You can delay the mold by the way you store your cheese. Wrap it in wax paper or parchment paper, then in foil, and it will keep much longer. Re-wrap it after use the same way. A wonderful cheese cutter at an upscale shop taught me this, and I've never looked back.
@Kristina, Back when I got Tupperware for my first home, I read to rinse the cheese containers with vinegar, then let them dry, then add the cheese.
I haven't done that in decades, but still use the same Tupperware without having mold problems on cheddar.
Seems cheese is best stored air tight, such as you describe.
Disorganized this week as a result of DH's kidney stone problems. He is up and down at all hours and struggling to identify and avoid foods with oxalic acid. But still managed:
1) tedious mending job, shortening pants for the second time. Humble pie, big slice: I had shortened them already, only one inch, before I tried them on. Two more inches shorter, now they fit properly. I can't stand to walk on the hem under my heel.
2) cooked at home in spite of humid, hot weather outside: homemade pizza, salmon cakes, garbanzo bean curry, soda bread, lemonade, rice pilaf, lovely tomato salads.
3) joined Weight Watchers (again) at half the monthly fee, membership and discount for one year.
4) listened to library books on CDs as I cooked, wonderful entertainment.
5) started to discard most mail that comes with a bulk postage mark. No need to read funding pleas from all over the universe, tho I enjoy "window shopping" in some catalogs.
Happy savings, everyone. Pennies still count!
1. I baked bread and focaccia and froze some of each for later.
2. I scanned my groceries in the NCP app to earn points. I almost have enough for a $25 gift card.
3. A 3-month-old receipt I had put into Ibotta finally came through, giving me $1.50 and putting my total over $20 so I had enough to redeem. I got a Walmart gift card.
4. I read two books from the library.
Jamoca Almond Fudge is my most favorite. At our BR you can't get it scooped only quarts. It's a splurge treat occasionally. Not for frugality- for food plan limitations.
New Ross Dress for Less store is near me. So I bought pair of Reebok for $30 and Aerosoles slippers for $12.
When I need vitamin D and cranberry supplements, I spend $25 on Saturday to get the $5 off deal at Dollar general.
I pick free clover flowers on our lawn. Clover tea is so delicious and free. I dehydrated clover. My cholesterol decreased by 70, and triglycerides decreased to normal range in 1 year. I don't take cholesterol meds.
1) Listed and sold a bunch on eBay. Paired with, gave away a ton of stuff on BN (frugal for others).
2) Packed flight snacks when flying with DS18 to Portland for the relay. We were both supposed to run it, but I'm injured & we'd used a companion fare that I would lose if I canceled one of our flights. I also repriced a flight just for him, and it was more than having both of us stick to our original plans of flying. I'm not working right now, and I was able to spend time with my parents.
3) I also used the time at my sister's house to declutter (per her request), list things on eBay & FB marketplace & BN. I gave away a ton, sold some stuff for her, and helped her clean out her garage & office space.
4) Hosted an impromptu dinner for four teens on Sunday night. We were planning to make enough burgers for leftovers, but two of the teens each ate 3 cheeseburgers (the Costco Angus beef patty kind, which are absolutely enormous). I also cut up 1/2 a Costco watermelon. We didn't have any leftovers, so we are now eating random things we're finding in the freezer. Good for a freezer clean out week. And, we always want to encourage our teens to have people over for dinner.
5) Eating a lovely salad today, with lettuce from our garden.
@Hawaii Planner,
Teenagers just eat so much! It really is shocking sometimes.
My frugal five:
1. Hubby and I went on a three day trip to Atlantic City which cost us $227 for the hotel. Two free nights (have to pay resort fees even if it's free).
2. Filled up with gas at Costco before trip: $3.04/gallon.
3. Played trivia in one of the bars at the casino and won a $20 gift certificate for any restaurant in the hotel/casino. We went for lunch the next day and split a blt (that must have had a pound of bacon on it! and hubby had a bowl of soup. Total cost was $22 so we paid with our gift certificate and hubby had $1.25 on his player's card. $1.00 for lunch + tip.
4. Hubby got to go swimming in the ocean for free. Only a couple of beaches are free in NJ including Atlantic City so no outrageous fee to get on the beach. I'm talking like $15 to $20 a day!
5. Hubby walked along the 2 mile long boardwalk for exercise and went into two different casinos to sign up for players cards and got 2 free t shirts.
6. While I mostly gambled I didn't lose my shirt and was able to walk out with my head held high.
@auntiali, you have to PAY to go on the beach?? That's messed up.
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, Welcome to Jersey! LOL We pay to go on the beach. You can get a beach tag for the season & avoid daily rates.
I’ve cut mold off of otherwise good cheese for years! And I’m here to tell the tale, so I guess it’s fine!
1. Shopped at Aldi. I started out at Walmart for a can of paint. Then decided “what the heck, I’ll just get everything here”. But as I shopped around, I changed my mind and went to Aldi. The prices! I couldn’t.
2. Cooked every meal from scratch. I’m making a conscious effort to lay off fast food. I got some troubling bloodwork results ( I’m diabetic and it showed some kidney issues). So I’m trying to get my diet up to speed.
3. Spray painted a metal kitchen cart (probably vintage, in BAD shape surface-wise) for my daughter to put her Cricut on.
4. Started pricing new Roomba vacuums as mine was acting up. Gave it a good talking to, and replaced the brushes and filter. Works great now.
5. Stayed home. Honestly, because of the intense heat in Texas, but the fallout from that means I didn’t spend anything. Now, I’m an online shopper to the max, but I have limited myself the last three weeks to Christmas/birthday shopping ONLY.
1. My son pieced together a few deals and ended up with two new pairs of shoes for school for less than the price of one pair. We don’t do a big back-to-school shopping trip for school clothes but I made an exception for the shoes.
2. We’ve been living with excessive heat warnings so I’ve been making sure to close the blinds, keep it a little warmer in the house to reduce the strain on the AC, and use the slow cooker or air fryer for meals.
3. Meals are still revolving around our CSA veggies which our grocery budget appreciates.
4. I took advantage of some BOGO deals at a store I don’t normally shop at but I made sure they were only for items that were on my list or that we use frequently.
5. One of my coworkers gave me a puzzle she just finished which I have been working on while watching the free shows on the CBS app. It’s too hot to do much else.
I am so bad about using apps. More and more places are making me use them and I figure it out, but I hate it. Seems like there are many freebies though in the apps.
This week:
I needed to recover a footstool. I found a piece of upholstery fabric large enough in the miscellaneous cuts at Hobby Lobby for $4.
I came across some Fender hat pins on clearance and picked them up for my younger son for his Christmas stocking. He plays guitar and has many.
I ran into the commissary while I was at the air base to pick up items that are cheaper there (mainly cleaning supplies/cereal/some frozen items). It used to be many things were cheaper there, but that's not the case anymore. Reynolds wrap is much cheaper there though so I do stock up on it when I'm there too.
I bought a couple of patterns for sewing at goodwill for 50 cents each.
I went to Old Navy the other day and everything in the store is jean or chambray...very in style for fall. I don't own a lot of that but didn't see anything I love (I never find anything at Old Navy...I think cause I'm not tall). Later in the day though I came across a knee length dress and a longer dress both in a chambray on the 50% off rack at goodwill. They'll be good for work this fall especially with the lighter weight of the fabric.
Did all the usual...ate at home, made some new dog and cat toys rather than buy them, trimmed the pets' nails, got books on audible, etc.
1) I cleared out the dreaded realm of under the bathroom sink, and returned a bag of lavender epsom salts for a $5 Target store gift card; then used the $5 and my Target card for another 5% off toward dinner this evening, so $12 down from $18 🙂
2) Made a batch of lowfat poppyseed scones.
3) Gave one son a really warm winter coat that his sister had gotten at a thrift store but realized was too big for her, so now there's a lovely large empty spot in our closet.
4) I always make lovely Scottish black tea and cool it into iced tea--much more affordable than take out and definitely more delicious!
5) Bought a 1/2 peck of organic apples from a local orchard for the same price as Aldi sells pink ladys.
5 Frugal Things Travel Edition
1. Went away for 5 days with friends and split the cost of an Airbnb; parking at the airport; rental car and gas
2. The a/c stopped working the first evening there and the complex was able to out us into another condo that had direct views of the ocean which was a lovely upgrade and no additional cost to us (would have been $600 more had we booked that condo which is why we didn’t)
3. Split the cost of groceries and had breakfast at the condo each day and snacks to pack for while out and about
4. Took a puzzle from home to put together in the evenings
5. Saw a speciality magazine at the airport that I was interested in but didn’t want to spend $14.99 for it so I took note of the name and was able to find it on the Libby app to read for free
I have done the same thing with the cheese.
1. My aunt has fallen 3 times in the last 4 months. She is in a rehab facility currently. My daughter and I drove(40 minutes) and brought her lunch. I Made her up a bag of stuff from my gift closet(fuzzy socks, lotion, crossword book, pad, pen and pencil set, nail file) She loved it and I had everything already. My daughter brought nail stuff and did her nails. We had a great time visiting.
2. Picking cucumbers, tomatoes, swiss chard, lettuce, string beans, parsley, basil, and figs almost every day. It has been raining every few days so I haven't had to water.
3. Washed laundry on the short(30 minutes) cold cycle. Hung most of it outside.
4. Had $5 coupon from CVS. Waited until I could get my prescription($0). I spent $2 out of pocket and it gave me a $4 off coupon. I will use it before it expires.
5. Threw chicken thighs in the crockpot before I went to see my aunt. Made some of them into tacos for dinner tonight. Pulled beans I had previously made out of the freezer and made some rice too. Used lots of lettuce and tomatoes from the garden. Had BLT's last night for dinner.
I don't think we're the right group to worry about sharing that you cut mold off of cheese 🙂
Frugal things:
- stayed with friends for an overnight away
- helped these friends clean up after they hosted a large picnic and were given some of the leftover food to take home
- stocked up on chicken and cattle feed at the feed mill; it's about 40% cheaper than other farm stores
- getting back into the routine of packing lunches for school. Although, my kids' small school doesn't have a cafeteria so I don't have an option for them to buy. So, my frugal approach to packed lunches is mostly avoiding prepackaged items, while also packing things they will actually eat.
- brewing coffee at home, maintaining a strong will and reminding my kids that we don't eat out every day (they ask all the time!!), trying to eat down some leftovers...
Based on these responses, apparently not! lol
If you blanch the peaches for about 30 seconds or so in boiling water the skins will just slide off. I do this before I freeze them or make peach pie
Moldy cheese! Probably nobody on here knows about Hickory Farms stores in the malls. In addition to a major no.of gift basket worthy products they also had SAMPLES and clever little tips type of classes and one of them addressed mold on cheeses. They used a very thin sharp bladed knife and a white vinegar and water solution to remove mold from their cheeses. Knife dipped in the liquid wiped it away and vinegar water killed any new ones. FDA AND health dept. Approved
Sophie. Occasionally one must MUST have a reward or comfort food . It can be soothing and or strength building for the rest of your day.
Moldy cheese does not scare me!
Huge fan of intentionally moldy blue cheese and Gorgonzola. Yum!
1) slowly and methodically cleaning out my aunt and uncles house for sale later this Fall. Will have an estate sale next week. Time is money, but I’m not working right now, so that’s a flexibility I currently have.
2) husband is back at school (high school teacher), so I’m making sure he takes a fully packed lunch and water bottle to curb any tempting McDonalds lunch runs.
3) we buy snacks for his classroom (many teens don’t grab something to eat before school). While this isn’t frugal, we feel it’s an important way for the teens to know someone is looking out for them. Typically we buy the Costco brand choco chip bars and can get 60 for $9.99. That’s a good buy!
4) signed up for CVS Care card/ extra bucks. I’m late to this party! Got some great deals/ free items
5) will be at the beach for Labor Day weekend, and plan to pack lunches and eat at home (except for one night when we are traveling for a wedding )
@Kim from Philadelphia, see Sharon Says So for grants for school teachers. She raises unbelievable amounts of money to give to school teachers each year.
No problem with no. 4, I would do the same!
* I did an inventory of all the frozen food I have at home and I am now determined to go through it before buying more. This means less groceries in the next month or so.
* Teen daughter did a hole in the wall (don't ask....), so she is now responsible for fixing it and repainting the wall, and paying for the material. Frugal for us I guess (not paying for it), and a good learning curve for her toward emotional regulation, I hope!
* Daughter needed shelves for her school locker, so we bought 3 (at the dollar store, for a 1/3 of the price). She brought two back home yesterday. I usually give away stuff I don't use, but I'll hold on to these ones for the next 5 years or so (until she graduates) instead of maybe having to buy new ones down the road.
* Using really cheap plans for our cellphone and the kids cellphones. It's only 15$/month/cell and the kids pay half of theirs. We don't have much data, but WIFI is everywhere.
I HAVE SOMETHING TO POST FINALLY! lol. Your recent post about buying shoes on EBay reminded me my current shoes are getting uncomfortable, so I bought a pair of the same shoe (I have custom expensive inserts and I didn’t want the drama of trying to get them to fit into a different brand) for 31$ including shipping. New ones were on sale for 99
As the summer comes to a close and we go back to school, there's a bit of a what do we have in the house to use up theme.
1 - I used two free jump passes to take the youngest to Launch.
2 - I used some gift cards to take three kids for ice cream.
3 - I started looking through the freezer/pantry to see what needs to be used up. Thus far I have chicken fajitas and pecan cookies on the menu. A full audit of the freezer is in the plan for after Labor Day because unlike Kristen my time to get projects done is during the school year.
4 - I set aside some items to sell. See above bullet for when that might happen.
5 - I ordered a bunch of shirts on Ebay for particular boy who needs the next size.