Five Frugal Things | oldie but a goodie
1. I refreshed some wilted lettuce
I know I've shared this a lot of times before, but there's always someone out there who hasn't heard of this tip!
I got a head of rather limp lettuce in my Hungry Harvest box.
So I chopped it up, and put it into the bowl of my salad spinner, with cold water.
Just a half hour later, it was so much crispier. It's like magic!
This might be a sign I need to get out more, but I think it's kind of fun to refresh wilted greens, so I was slightly happy to see my wilted Hungry Harvest lettuce. Ha.
2. I got some Fetch reward bonuses
When you haven't scanned a receipt in a while, Fetch always offers you 300 points for any receipt. I happened to have two Safeway receipts, so I scanned those and realized there was also a 100-point bonus for Safeway receipts.
So then I scanned every Safeway receipt I could find in my house. 😉
(Fetch is a receipt-scanning app, much like Ibotta; if you want to try it, use my referral code QG8V2 to get a 2000-point signup bonus.)
3. I got a new kettle on Facebook Marketplace
The lid on my other kettle broke, and we limped along with it for a while like that.
But then the two lid pieces started regularly coming apart, and I decided, ok, enough is enough. I should probably buy another kettle!
Incidentally, remember when I melted one of my kettles by accidentally setting it on the hot stovetop?
That was not my finest moment.
Anyway, I looked around on eBay but man, the shipping on these things is a lot.
Also, some people on eBay are trying to sell the kettles for more than they cost brand new on Amazon. I never will understand this!
I considered a bunch of different listings, but then it occurred to me to look on Facebook Marketplace. I found one that was about a half hour away, messaged with the seller, and learned she works only ten minutes from my house. Woohoo!
So, I just met her at her job, and that saved me time and gas money.
And I didn't have to pay for shipping at all. Yay!
4. I got a free Panera cookie for Lisey
I saw that I had a free cookie offer in my app, so when I went out to pick up the kettle, I popped into Panera and got a cookie for Lisey since I know she loves the Panera candy cookies.
5. I bought marked-down chicken
I saw a package of chicken thighs at Aldi, marked down 50%.
I deboned and skinned them when I got home, froze them on a baking sheet, and then transferred them to ziploc bags once they were hard.
And I saved the bones to use for a batch of chicken broth in the future (using a reused ziploc bag OF COURSE.) 😉
—I prepared for my milestone birthday by doing every possible chore I could think of the week before. More than things, I want to give myself seven full days of self-care: Reading, art, old movies, hiking, whatever strikes me. I’ve been a caretaker for a decade in addition to trying to keep up with Normal Life Stuff (TM), so true leisure time is both hard to accept (that nagging “There must be something I need to do” voice) and intensely needed!
—During the week, I greatly enjoyed savoring the new books and gourmet hot cocoa that Santa Husband gifted at Christmas. Indeed, he was the main proponent of my taking a week for myself.
—My husband roasted a leg of lamb (bought on sale months ago and saved in the freezer) that fed us both for three and a half meals. With the exception of Italian soda we bought for the occasion (I don’t drink alcohol but wanted to feel fancy :P), we had all our meal components on hand.
—I made my own cake, as I wanted something with ALL the chocolate: chocolate batter, mini chocolate chips, and homemade chocolate whipped cream for the topping. I’ve extra walking and hiking in my future, but it was worth it!
—My birthday present from my husband was hysterically practical: Mongolian yak wool underwear! I have yak wool leggings and socks (also gifts) that I adore, and the “underwear” are more like yak wool shorts to wear over one’s actual underwear. They weren’t cheap, especially after shipping (he forgets I go over the credit card statement, silly man), but they are definitely splurge-worthy! My tush is toasty, indeed.
@N,
Happy Birthday!!!! I hope that you will have a wonderful year filled with love and happiness!
@N, happy birthday! And I'm curious to know what yak wool is like. I'm a fan of alpaca, but I've never felt (much less felted) yak.
@N, Happiest of Birthdays! I love the idea of getting all the work done ahead and enjoying a relaxing week with no guilt!
@N,
Happy birthday and enjoy the yak underwear, which makes me curious to feel yak wool.
@N, that sounds like a terrific birthday week! Especially suitable for someone who has been a long time caregiver- ask me how I know. Could totally relate to books, the most chocolatey of cakes and the nagging feeling that surely I should be doing something productive. Happy Burthday!
@A. Marie, Ha!
@N - what a wise idea, and sounds extremely well executed (ref the chocolate chocolate chocolate cake)! I like the idea of wool, but can only tolerate it occasionally as a top layer. The mere mention of wool underwear is making me shift around uneasily. Too bad for me - that's a great mix of practical and exotic!
@Everyone, thank you for the birthday wishes! 🙂 As for yak wool, I’d say it’s like alpaca wool’s slightly tougher cousin. It isn’t scratchy at all but is delightfully soft and durable—I can machine wash it (gentle cycle) and dry it on low heat, no problem. It also seems more pest resistant than traditional wool, as I have never found any moth munch holes on my yak wool socks, which are left out the most. Re: the underwear, again these are more like yak wool boxers—think a sweater for your bum—for when the leggings are too warm but another layer would still be nice. I wear actual underwear underneath, don’t worry!
@N,
Happy Birthday—and your plan for it is possibly the best idea for an awesome birthday I’ve heard yet. Enjoy it to the fullest and I might just borrow it.
@N, you have given me an idea!!
A charity here regularly brings in yak wool shawls/sofa throws ethically sourced in Nepal. These are a really good size. They would sew into awesome under garments. Face palm that I have never thought of sewing some before you mentioned them. They shawls have been selling in the $60.00 CDN range, so $45.00 U.S.
@N, Odd to say, but I envy your yak underpants! What a great gift from a thoughtful husband. Happy birthday.
Wool can often be washed and dried, if you're very careful. Same is true for other animal fibers. My favorite winter coat is a white alpaca motorcyle jacket, which I find very stylish and warm but maybe not the most practical as it does tend to get weird orange stains from wherever. A quick gentle soak in cold water with natural soap works great.
1. Over the weekend we were in two different shopping centers that share a parking lot with Giant Food stores. I popped into both of them and they had RX and Lara Bars marked down 75%. There were also a few other good clearance items at the first one. We are now very rich in snack bars.
2. I bought only food at Costco. It was so crowded, it is always crowded these days, that I wasn't even tempted to look at anything else. I stuck to the list and managed to not have to wait to use the self-check.
3. A neighbor bought peg board that he wanted to cut it to fit a certain spot in his basement. He and his wife are young homeowners and do not have all the tools we do. They came over and he cut the board with the table saw and we had a nice visit on a rainy Sunday afternoon. There is no reason for everyone to own every tool.
4. My husband has the day off so we will go to lunch at our favorite lunch spot and combine that with a few errands and a stop at a park to walk/hike. Lunch is much cheaper than dinner and we don't like to eat that much in the evening anyway.
4. I carpooled to a Pilates class with a friend. The class is about eight miles away so it was a good time to do some catching up.
I had a rather spendy week last week, but can you call it a frugal win that I didn't buy tires two weeks ago when they were very pricey, and then having a blowout and getting hazard credit for one of them? It worked out to save me $107 so I guess? Also, I:
*used cash my mother gave me to "eat out" - a $9 chicken sandwich meal at Short Stop
*made some more cleaning cloths out of two old and holey towels
*stayed well within my budget for groceries for the week ($34)
*emptied my Amazon cart and cancelled Prime before it renewed. If I sit on a purchase for a couple of days, sometimes I wonder why I thought I needed the item. (:
*spent time this weekend reading my Goodwill books, and now I have a huge stack of old National Geographics from my mother's house to read.
@gina, excellent way to evaluate Amazon purchases! Thank you for this reminder. With me and shopping on the internet, the later it is, the stupider I become.
@gina, My husband and I find it helpful to create lists on Amazon: kitchen, bath, general house stuff, our personal wants, etc. If something catches our eye that isn’t a planned purchase, it goes on a list. We review our lists regularly, and more often than not either 1) realize we didn’t need that specific thing or 2) use it as a cheat sheet when at a physical store so we can compare prices on something we do need.
@gina, I do the same thing with Amazon purchases. I often find I just like to "window shop" and I hold off on really purchasing nonessentials until our points roll over.
@Central Calif. Artist, For me it's books. Every time I would read a review of a new book I would think "I need to read that!" and order it from Amazon. No more! 2023 NY Resolution: use my Amazon Wish List to keep track of them so I can get them from the library. So much $$$$ saved. Not to mention bookshelf space.
@JDinNM, Ditto.
@JDinNM, I also put them into my library holds section. I can edit the pickup date and do use it. Sometimes I forget, like this January 1st when quite a few were released from their holds. We have a limit of 50 physical books to put holds on. Sometimes I move to digital holds which can be above the 50 or as one of my children taught me I put it in the want to read list on the Good Reads app.
@JDinNM, I am trying to do the same. My library has a wonderful free Inter-library loan system; if my branch doesn't have a book, chances are it's somewhere in the state, so I search for it and request it be sent to my branch. I like to read older, out-of-print books, and not every library has those, so I used to order them on Amazon.
@gina, that is SO TRUE about waiting to purchase an item!
1. Fixed the straps of my purse/lunch bag with safety pins.
2. Took my car straight to the shop when it started making a new sound. Based on the stain I noticed in the driveway, I think it is leaking transmission fluid, so it probably won't be a cheap fix, but maybe cheaper to get it there right away?
3. Spent some extra time chatting with my repair guy about his daughter's school options. He took over the shop from my previous guy, so I'm still building my relationship with him. I'm counting this as frugal because if someone has a good relationship with you, they are less likely to try and cheat you. Also, I think it's especially important for the guy who is in charge of my brakes to like me.
4. Stayed home all weekend and just hung out with my boys watching silly cat videos.
5. Ate reimagined leftovers for several dinners and a few lunches.
@Becca,
Oh, and the sole of my new boot was pulling away from the upper part, so I glued it with gorilla glue and "clamped" it with rubber bands. Fingers crossed it holds up!
@Becca, I’m a believer in taking care of people who take care of you and building a relationship with them. This isn’t the cheapest thing you can do, but it’s the most frugal. My plumber, mechanic, veterinarian, doctor, air conditioning tech, and accountant have helped me and my family members out in difficult situations. If you are constantly in search for the bigger deal, you can’t count on this type of relationship.
@Becca, I am also a firm believer in establishing a relationship w my mechanic and appliance repair person. My mechanic and his staff sometimes stop what they are doing to troubleshoot and lots of times do not even charge for the little things. I like to think they take care of me like I'm their Momma. And with that service they receive cookies or cinnamon rolls or muffins about once a month or two. I give them and the appliance repairman free advertisement and hand out phone numbers to people in need of their service.
I finally convinced my husband to wear slippers around the house to save his socks
Made a mock-up of my favorite Chipotle dressing
Neighbor brought perishables before their extended trip There were a few things I’ve never bought before so gave me a frugal way to try new items
Stayed home for Super Bowl and made snacky foods from the freezer and pantry
Cooked down some fish that had been in the freezer too long and supplemented the dogs’ food for awhile
My favorite frugal thing that's happened in awhile . . .
Remember when I said I had waited and waited to get my beloved coffee with chicory from Community Coffee until they were running a 25% off sale? (If you don't remember, I don't blame you. My coffee-ordering details are not that memorable, I know. 🙂
When it came, all 12 pounds were Medium Roast coffee instead of Coffee with Chicory. I went online and double-checked my order, to make sure I hadn't accidentally chosen the wrong thing myself. When I saw that I hadn't, I sent an e-mail to their customer service center informing them of the mistake and asking what their policy is in such a case.
(It was only 6 a.m., or I would have called their 800 number, because I always prefer talking to a person, and I was so surprised to see they even list that as a way to contact them. I feel like it's getting harder and harder to find a phone number to call.)
Less than an hour later, I got a return e-mail apologizing and informing me that they would ship out the correct order that day at no cost to me, and I didn't have to return the other box I got by mistake.
And . . . that was it. It's so rare now to have a positive and stress-free interaction with a company that I felt compelled to share my pleasure at this. I've been buying from Community Coffee for over a decade, and this is the first time there's been a mistake. This is not a giant mega-corp like Amazon that can afford to just take losses on products so they don't have to bother about returns or whatever, so it means something that they took the loss to fix their mistake. I was so pleased to know Community Coffee has not only great coffee, but excellent customer service.
And that's the (very) long story of how I got 24 pounds of coffee for half price, and was left with a warm fuzzy for Community Coffee.
@kristin @ going country, your story makes me want to look up Community Coffee and learn about them. Maybe enough of us here will be touched by your experience and impressed by their website to make up for their 24 lb. loss. It is a rare and beautiful thing to find a small company with real people who provide excellent customer service.
@kristin @ going country, yay, cheap coffee and excellent customer service!
@kristin @ going country, That is wonderful customer service! And I'm glad you got your favorite coffee!
@kristin @ going country, Thank you for mentioning this! It's getting harder to find a decent decaf coffee at a decent price, so I'll be taking advantage of this sale. CC coffee is always good and I'm glad to hear they're a good company too.
@kristin @ going country, I live in Beaumont, Tx. The coffee and spice company is here. They are good community neighbors.
Aww, yay for good customer service!
I think Southwest Airlines uses Community Coffee.
FFT, Money and Clams Edition:
(1) Last week was a good one for found money (as is often true right after a thaw). I found a dollar bill on the same walk where I encountered the hormonal rooster (see last week's TT), and that ain't chicken feed!
(2) Also, I found 80 cents in spendable change (mixed Canadian and US coins), plus a 1943 steel US penny and a 1966 UK halfpenny, in the coin machine at Wegmans.
(3) Anyone else old enough to remember that clams are the unit of currency in the late Johnny Hart's "B.C." comic strip? Well, they turned an ordinary "salvage" soup into an extraordinary one over the weekend. I used six russet potatoes that were starting to sprout, a carton of organic chicken stock I found on the clearance rack at Price Chopper, and some milk that wasn't getting any younger to make a potato soup. It was OK but bland with a little cheese. But then I remembered that I had a can of whole clams (purchased a while back at the grocery outlet) in the pantry. Voila, clam chowder!
(4) At the same grocery outlet, I found some unsalted peanuts in the shell that were past their best-by date. The blue jays and red-bellied woodpeckers (and also, alas, the squirrels) at my bird feeders don't seem to mind.
(5) And I'm looking forward to some free birding fun for science this coming weekend, with the Great Backyard Bird Count. If you'd like to know more about it, visit birdcount.org.
@A. Marie,
I used to love B.C.!
I'd love to do the backyard bird count, but I'm not home enough in the daylight to see what I've got out there. All I can say for now is "oodles of goldfinches," on top of my normal birds. They are keeping me busy with the feeders. What birds do you normally see?
@JD, in addition to the blue jays and RB woodpeckers mentioned above, I have these usual feeder friends in the winter: cardinals, black-capped chickadees, white-breasted nuthatches, goldfinches, tufted titmice, house finches, downy woodpeckers, mourning doves, starlings (of course), pigeons (of course), house sparrows (of course)--and the occasional white-throated sparrow, flicker, hairy woodpecker, Carolina wren, and Cooper's hawk. A female Cooper's provided excitement a couple of weeks ago by capturing a pigeon in midair!
But please do consider participating in the Great Backyard Bird Count, even if you have only a few hours to devote to it over Presidents' Day weekend. Every report from everywhere is valuable.
@A. Marie,
I'm having company all through that weekend and she has a birdfeeder at her home - maybe she can help me count birds. I get some, but not all of those birds you get - cardinals, wrens, titmice, chickadees, finches, sparrows, the woodpeckers, mourning doves. In addition to them, I sometimes will get a couple of yellow throated warblers and the occasional huge pileated woodpecker from the ones that live and raise a ruckus in the woods around us. I once got a rose-breasted grosbeak, and very, very rarely I'll see a painted bunting. We always get the cute little ground doves along with the mourning doves, and we are just covered up in Carolina Wrens. I have a nest or four of wrens every summer around the house and yard buildings. No starlings, and I'm fine with that. It remains to be seen if I'll have any hummingbirds around before March, although a very few will winter here, so I keep feeders out.
1. I made our meals at home, using up food we had.
2. I bought some chicken on sale.
3. I used some gift cards to buy stuff we needed... and a couple things we wanted.
4. We enjoyed library materials.
5. Even though all of our DVD and bluray players died in the past week (we had some hand-me-down ones from relatives leaving them behind when they moved), we have chosen to go without until we can find a cheap, nice one. We're also waiting for the free drop off week so we don't have to pay to dispose of them.
Our FFT:
We
-did not feel like cooking on Fr so we just heated some frozen pizza's
-shopped at Aldi and found meat and ready to cook potatos that were marked down.
-gave some leftovers to youngest for an easy meal for him
-found two pairs of excellent winter shoes for youngest, one second hand but like new, and one new and at a discount. Plus a great pair for summer. He has small feet for a guy and that is as difficult as it is for people with very large feet.
- I was gifted a beautiful handbag at the thrift shop where I had previously bought a top quality but not very cheap second hand winter coat. I had been making eyes at the bag when I bought the coat, but had decided against it because of the price of the coat.
In the second hand store there also is a "plant library" where people with black thumbs can leave plants that need resuscitation. And you can pick up plants and cutlings for next to nothing. We brought home three. We also borrowed books from the library, filled up our car at the cheapest place, did solar-paneled laudry when the sun was out and dried the laundry outside on our balcony. You can really tell that the days are getting longer! You can actually dry a load on the line in stead of half-drying and then hanging inside.
Kristen, I LOVE that kettle!!
1) We went to a fund raising dinner in our home town fully intending to pay $12 for a pot roast meal that is to die for (a great deal, I might add). I convinced my brother and his wife to come (he tends to be a little too reclusive) and he ended up paying for our meal, which was not my intention! But I gave a donation anyway.
2) We had a pot luck lunch after church yesterday, and one of the ladies made homemade kimchi, not something many people in our area like, but I love. I mentioned to her how delicious it was, and she gifted me a bowlful to take home. I also brought home some extra onions and a bunch of parsley no one wanted. It always make me sad to see items headed for the trash can. I am happy to rescue what I can.
3) I'm cutting my husband's hair at home this week; I schedule him in like a real hairdresser, ha! Friday, 10 am.
4) I made 2 sales on ebay selling items from around the house and reused packing materials to ship them.
5) I'm planning a short "spring break" getaway (my hubby is a teacher and I work part time) using free hotel points. Looking for places within driving distance and for hotels that have free breakfast and a hot tub.
@Tricia, I've been cutting my husband's hair since we got married 24 years ago! I had never cut hair before, but when we were engaged I was reading The Tightwad Gazette and mentioned something about the home haircuts article in it. He said, "Oh, that would be great if you could cut my hair, I hate going to the barber!" He was so insistent and so trusting that I could actually do it, I ended up practicing on him and I cut his hair a week before our wedding, even.
@Karen A., you're a brave woman, and your husband is a brave man!
@A. Marie, Ha, he says he doesn't have to look at himself, but I have to look at him, so I'll make sure to cut it the way I like it. 😉 I also cut our boys' hair, and have done all their lives. I keep telling them I will not be hurt at all if they want to go to a barber, but they insist they prefer home haircuts. And my oldest is 22!
Do you ever bake the chicken skin to make "chicken bacon"? It is DELICIOUS!
... Speaking of...
1. With a combination of sales, etc. I was able to get 6 lbs of bacon for $1.15 per pound.
2. On that same shop, I was able to MAKE $9 by buying 8 packages of Parm Crisps (Swagbucks). I'm hoping that the offer will refresh so that I can repeat this.
3. I used up some flatbread that I had gotten free from a mystery shop along with free cheese (also from a mystery shop), with pesto (made from homegrown garlic scapes & walnuts - which I sub for the uber-expensive pine nuts) for a super-frugal dinner.
4. I ended up having to do some last-minute unscheduled work over the weekend. I'm salary, so I wouldn't get paid more so I strongly hinted to my boss that a free dinner at one of our restaurants on campus would not be turned down (and she just texted me to have that dinner on the department's dime).
5. I have spent no money this week, other than on gas, groceries, and $3 on dinner during my 3-hour commute on Friday. For that, I used a deal on an app.
I have never even heard of chicken bacon. Do tell!
@BettafrmdaVille, pesto with walnuts is great. I am looking forward to summer and my crop of roquette (arugula( to use in pesto too. I rarely ever buy any.
@Kristen,
https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ree-drummond/crispy-chicken-skins-3908751
I use paprika, thyme and s/p for the spices.
We soak our lettuce when we wash it for storage and it stays crisp for at least a week. We bought this storage container and it works really well: https://www.amazon.com/WalterDrake-Lettuce-KeeperTM/dp/B0001QNGHC
The little rack, (with a spike for holding iceberg heads), keeps the leaves out of the excess water on the bottom, preventing rot.
@AnnieH, I have a ... 60? year old Tupperware container just like that. I must have inherited it from my grandmother. It's great for iceberg lettuce.
1. I made a quick lentil soup last night and brought some for lunch today. I think it might be the cheapest meal I make: one onion, one carrot, one clove of garlic, one cup of dried lentils, and a palmful of spices.
2. All of our lunch containers have mysteriously walked away, so I shrugged, poured soup into a ziplock bag, and will heat it up in a mug for lunch. No way am I buying lunch just because I can't find a container!
3. I ordered enough diapers and toilet paper from Costco that delivery was free
4. I saved the gift-cards I get sometimes at work for when I was working on the weekend--got myself a big, nice dinner delivered for only $3.50 on my part.
5. I knew we wouldn't make it to the discount grocery store this week, so I bought extra last week and made sure we had staples. I know we'll need some things from the expensive store, but I think we'll be able to keep it to less-expensive produce, like apples and potatoes.
@Meira @meirathebear,
I forgot the biggest one!!!
I had bought a voucher on sale for a company that prints photobooks, because I make one every year. I was ready to use it, but it said it had expired. Luckily, I know that this is ILLEGAL in Canada (Consumer Protections Act means that retail gift cards can't expire,) so I wrote to them reminding them of that...and wouldn't you know it they decided "as a courtesy" (haha) they'll allow me to use the voucher.
@Meira @meirathebear, good on you. Wr must fight for our consumer rights. That response is intimidation. Giant pet peeve of mine...
My little grey Keurig died. I really didn’t want to buy another machine. I bought a small Bodum pour over coffee maker. I just open the keurig pods and empty the coffee into the filter and pour hot water over. I think I like the taste better, it’s stronger. Under 20 bucks, easy to clean, takes less space. I imagine a bag of coffee cost less than the pods and less packaging. I wonder how many appliances I don’t really need.
@Tiana, and everyone, I have a Keurig-like coffee machine (Hamilton Beach Flexbrew); in addition to the regular pod-holder, it has a 2nd little holder for loose coffee so I don't have to buy/use pods if I don't want to. (BTW, Walmart sells little reusable pods for Keurigs, too; they're in the aisle near the coffee filters and coffee appliances.) You just spoon coffee from the can into these reusable pods and put 'em into your coffee machine. (Afterwards, put the spent coffee grounds in your compost pile, if you garden.) Since I'm single, making a single cup is better than having leftover coffee from a small coffeemaker. But I get the best of both worlds when I use the reusable pod. (I also let friends know that I have a "Keurig" -- sometimes I'm given coffee pods as gifts at Christmas, birthdays, etc. That's a present I can really use!)
1) Picked up birthday freebies - Starbucks drink & a Panera treat. I adore their frosted sugar cookies.
2) Used another $5 Safeway offer, plus a few per item/department offer to buy a few groceries we needed (included cookies & ice cream for my son's birthday) & saved quite a bit.
3) Sold an item on FB marketplace. I've never tried the mailing option, so this will be a new experience for me. So far, I'm not a fan of their mailing experience vs eBay.
4) Used saved gift bags for birthday/Valentine's gifts. (We give our teens a little bit of cash & some candy for Valentine's Day).
5) Continue to do the basics: eat leftovers, shop for sales, menu plan, charge our electric car for free, etc.
@Hawaii Planner, Solid red-colored Christmas gift bags, or red bags that don't have a specific-to-Christmas design, are fantastic to use for Valentine's. Ditto, any green ones you have like that -- re-use them on St. Patrick's Day.
I've given up looking for a replacement lid for my largest Crock Pot. I use a large round silicone lid that just sits on top but sucks down to seal it as the pot heats up. I also use it on my 10" and 12" cast iron skillets. That wouldn't work for a kettle, though! That was a lucky find!
1. I used Kristen's recipe to make Valentine's Day sugar cookies for the grandkids. I found butter on sale for $4/pound, although frankly, it is depressing to think that was a sale.
2. The door cable on my dishwasher had broken, and this weekend the door slipped out of my hands and opened all the way down, hard. The brackets that hold the washer in place popped loose, so that every time I opened the door, the dishwasher tipped forward. It took a lot of fiddling, some new drilling and pushing a dishwasher around, but I got the brackets back in place firmly and the dishwasher stays put when I open the door. I also went to Repair Clinic online and found they carry the replacement door cables, so I'll have to get one of those. I have had so many problems with dishwashers, but it still beats washing dishes by hand.
3. I ordered some clothes for three upcoming grandchild-birthdays from Lands End. They were on 50% off sale, I got free shipping, and I got $2.08 back on my Swagbucks. I also ordered 3 bottles of vitamins from Vitacost and got $8.90 back on Capital One shopping.
4. Included in the Lands End order was an early, early Christmas present. I got a set of bath towels that were also half off, plus the discounts already mentioned above. I think this is my record for earliest purchase of a Christmas present.
5. A friend's husband died after a short illness. Instead of buying a card, I did what I've done for several years now; I took some of my nicest personal stationery and wrote her a letter to tell her how much I thought of her husband and her, too. This isn't frugal if you don't own stationery, but I always have it and pretty blank notes around. It also saves me a trip to buy a card. Plus, people always tell me they are grateful for the letters.
@JD, the Repair Clinic? This sounds like a terrific frugal thing. Thank you. . . heading over to DuckDuckGo to satisfy some curiosity about it.
@JD, your #2 beats anything I've ever done with RTFM! And your #5 is heartwarming.
@A. Marie,
I had read about it in an etiquette book and thought it sounded so nice to do. I started with a friend, years ago, who told me she really appreciated that I took time to write about her late mother. Since then I've written a number of letters to the bereaved. I've also written to elderly relatives just to tell them how much they mean to me, to a friend dying with brain cancer, and to a few special people on their birthdays. I really enjoy writing them. I think it does me as much good as it does the recipient!
@Central Calif. Artist,
They have installation videos, too, which is very helpful for me!
@JD, I do the same! I generally feel that greeting cards are a total rip-off and that they get discarded pretty quickly. But a nice, heartfelt note is something for people to treasure and reread.
For people I know who will appreciate the sentiment (think younger people -weddings, graduations) I will often use regular stationery, write a short note and enclose $4-$5 with the explanation that I hope they enjoy the cash in lieu of a Hallmark card they will soon toss.
I also find greeting and Christmas cards that people just sign their name to (no message whatsoever) quite unsatisfying and perfunctory.
I do have a stash of a few greeting cards for occasions when it feels appropriate.
Nothing beats a birthday card with some cash or gift card enclosed. Smile.
@JD, I've written to several people who were dying that I hadn't seen in years, including a former doctor to thank them. The letters were amazingly easy to write and in several cases, I heard from the person's relatives how much the letters were appreciated. I also agree with you that it's a very self-fulfilling activity.
@JD, When a friend of mine was dying, I was able to visit him and have good conversations with him. My son, on the other hand, was very upset and knew that visiting would not be the right thing to do. I suggested that he write a letter to my friend, which he did, and I delivered. He was pretty close to the end and although he wanted to read it himself, he eventually asked his sister to read it to him - and she shared that it was a precious and sweet experience. My friend was very touched by my son's letter, and told his sister how wonderful he thought my son was. Which of course came back to him via me. I cannot express how powerful it is to receive a letter that is handwritten, be it for a loss or a celebration or even just because. I recently found some that were sent to me over the years and I had tucked away on a bookshelf - we were cleaning the shelf and I took a glorious 20 minutes to revisit those notes and letters.
@JD,
I am the letter writing camp as well, though sometimes I do it inside a card. I always get cards that have plenty of empty space on the inside. Last month I wrote one to a dear friend who is dying from brain cancer (cried through the whole thing) and right now I have a card needing to be written to a friend who just lost her husband. I've always liked sending cards and notes and agree that it does me a lot of good as well. I can't physically be with my dying friend right now, but I appreciate that there are other ways like this that I can share all of things I love about her and some of my favorite memories with her.
Ugh, yes, a "good" butter price is sort of bad right now!
@Jean, and everyone,
I think a personal note can't be beat. It is a thoughtful gesture that shows you really care. Meanwhile, here's a hint from my grandmother: she'd re-use the front of those Christmas cards as a package decoration. If there's no note on the back of the illustration, they can be taped onto the wrapped gift along with the bow; if you're mailing the gift, use the card in lieu of the bow. Sometimes, if the sender only wrote their name, Grandma would cut the card above the signature and write "To Sister from Mom", or whatever, right under the verse; she would then tape the whole card to the package and let it double as the gift tag AND package decoration.
FFT-
1. My DH’s recliner had a split/hole in at the end of each armrest. He wanted a new chair. Instead I ordered a repair kit & patched everything. I still need to get another color & maybe do some mixing to get a perfect match. But for less than $100 I extended the life of an otherwise little worn recliner.
2. Used our insurance “healthy options” cards at the grocery. This saved $100 off the total bill.
3. I’ve been cooking at home using ingredients that can be used as leftovers or repurposed into another dish. This means of course that I cook once & eat twice (or more). I’ve always done this to some degree but really concentrating on this now that food prices are so high. Plus it’s less work for me in the long run.
4. Started a “soup” baggie for the freezer. Any leftover veggies go in this bag.
5. I was getting low on ground beef but luckily I found some on sale. I bought 6# for
$15.
@LDA, re: your #1: I've patched the elbow holes in one of our two recliners with plain black Gorilla tape (the super-tough duct tape made by the Gorilla Glue folks), and I'm about to do the same with the other. If anyone asks, I tell them it's not all that different from putting elbow patches on a tweed jacket.
FFT: Child's Birthday Edition
1. I baked my daughter's birthday treats for school today instead of buying something.
2. I baked her birthday cake for her birthday party and made my own Lego decorations.
3. Some of the candy for the piñata was leftover from Halloween where I bought too much (we're still months from the BB date and the packaging wasn't Halloween-themed) and some of it was marked-down after Christmas (also months from its BB date and not Christmas-themed).
4. I did a much better job of estimating how much food we would need for a taco bar than I did for my two kids who chose that for their summer birthdays last year. I still overbought, but not nearly as bad as last time.
5. We had the party at our house. I know it would be so much less stressful to do it somewhere else, especially in winter, but I can't bring myself to pay for that type of party. I do enjoy the chance to have her friends at our house, too.
I'm in my last year of having all of my kids in single-digits!
Since I learned your lettuce-refreshing trick, I've been less afraid to buy lettuce (I'm the only one in our household who eats salads), because I know even if I don't eat it up right away, I can refresh it and have delicious salads.
1. Used up the last of a bag of oat bran I bought back when I was influenced by a 'healthy living blogger' to buy an expensive bag of oat bran. Yes, it's pretty tasty and has lots of fiber, but oatmeal is cheaper and you get a heck of a lot more. Still I'm proud I used the bag up rather than pitch it out in a fit of pantry organization.
2. We got 24 years of use out of the washer my parents bought me when I moved out into my first apartment--it was getting unbalanced a lot, the bleach dispensing cup hadn't worked properly for years, and we had it wedged into its place with insulation foam to keep it from banging around when it did get unbalanced. It made noises, but you know, it worked, but then recently my husband noticed the sounds were getting worse, and finally after researching he decided a washer dryer unit (where the dryer is above the washer in a complete unit) made the most sense, and would free up space in the laundry room.
We got a pretty good deal, and by picking it up himself and installing it himself we saved a bundle on that. They tried to charge him 100 bucks for hoses, but he managed to get that taken off the bill, since we had those. Then he opened up the box and found it came WITH hoses, even without the extra charge.
He was planning on saving the dryer we had, just moving it to the garage, but upon de-installation he found the vent pipe on the old dryer was cracked, and had been leaking dusty air into the laundry room. That explained why our towels weren't getting dry, and why i had been resorting to just hanging them by a fan over the heating vent at night! So the dryer will be joining the washer (which, as it turned out, was rusting from the inside out, judging from the pile of rusty dust it left after it was carted out) on the curb this week for a pickup.
I can say that it is a huge frugal thrill to have made something last that long and really appreciate a new appliance when you have to get one. We were also able to move our garage fridge, affectionally called Bob, into the laundry room, where it will do better in the summer to keep our extra food and seltzers cold. As my youngest put it, "I don't have to freeze my feet in the winter to get a seltzer now!" It's the little things sometimes.
3. Used Amazon rewards points (like A. Marie, we use that card for bills and for household purchases, and the points are my "mad money" at the end of the billing cycle) to get some grocery staples cheaper than at the grocery store (like gluten free lasagna noodles and flaxseed, which I use instead of eggs in baking). Am making fewer impulse "fun" purchases.
4. I did get a pen and ink workbook to practice my drawing techniques, but will photocopy the pages rather than draw in the book, so I can use it many times. This is a trick I've used many years of homeschooling; any workbooks that are meant to be consumable but I think I'll be using with a younger child, I copy with my printer and get more use out of the workbook, or keep it clean for resale.
5. We waited for Wakanda Forever to come out on Disney Plus (already have a subscription) rather than see it earlier, and hoo boy, I'm glad we didn't pay extra to see it. What a stinker.
@Karen A., your #2: When I bought my house 25+ years ago, I replaced all the kitchen appliances. Got a good deal on them! All are still working, except the oven part of the slide-in range. But the cook top still works! Appliance prices have been so outrageous and the choice so limited I decided to buy a little Breville countertop convection oven for $200 (originally $400) to tide me over, and I don't miss the big oven a bit. But I know I'm going to have to replace all of them one of these days. Just waiting the market out, like when I (absolutely) had to replace the 25-year old car. Used car prices started declining dramatically; hoping the same for kitchen appliances. Fingers crossed!
Freshman year in college, BFF and I had an enormous suite next to the dorm's laundry room. We used to have a betting pool on which machines would move the farthest. Some of them got more than halfway across the room.
@Karen A., huge kudos on your #2. And give my regards to Bob the fridge. If you're attached enough to an appliance to name it, it deserves regards.
@A. Marie, He is a very good fridge. And we have a very elderly fridge out in the garage still. It came with a house we bought back in 2007, and it was at least 20 years old then, so now...36? Her name is Bessie and she is so powerful she'll freeze your lettuce if you're not careful. She's now a water fridge.
@JDinNM, When we had a recent power outage we realized that if we'd had a toaster oven, we could power that with a generator and still bake if the power was out a long time. I absolutely adore my toaster oven and use it for baking all the time! The large oven is reserved for when I have to make multiple pans at the same time.
@Karen A., If there is a metal recycler in your area, have your husband take the dead appliances there. They will pay you by the pound to recycle your junk metal; they don't care if it's rusted. I imagine a washer and a clothes dryer would weigh enough to make the trip worth your while!
Kristen…could you please explain how you debone chicken thighs? (Maybe a link if you’ve already explained this.) I’ve tried but they end up sort of mangled. It would be very helpful since it’s one thing that’s still inexpensive. If the explanation is too lengthy maybe you could use it as the beginning of next week’s frugal five. Thank you!
@Shirley & Kristen, I too would love a tutorial! I seem to make a mess of deboning as well. thank you!
Hmm. I am not an expert but I could try to write about the steps I use.
I always feel like I do a bit of a hack job, but it does work. lol
1. I have a new love for iced coffee and stops at Starbucks add up very quickly. I searched the aisles of my local TJ Maxx and found deeply discounted sugar free syrup and I am becoming an in home Barista for far less cash out of pocket.
2. Laundry loads combined, dishwasher ran at full capacity. Fixed a toilet that was running.
3. Spent a while reorganizing some drawers & shelves in my closet. This makes it easier for me to find the things I need as I am going down in sizes. It cost nothing except my time to do and gave me great joy.
4. Meals at home. Spaghetti with whole wheat pasta. Chicken & wild rice soup. Homemade yeast rolls. Fresh baked bran muffins. Fruit. Cubed steak & veggies. Roasted potatoes. Baked egg muffins. Far less expensive than eating out and so much healthier. Shopped grocery sales in an effort to keep the pantry well stocked.
5. I used a lingering gift card to purchase a long sleeve t-shirt and a hoodie. Digital coupons to save $8 on my grocery purchase. Waited for a sale to purchase two sawhorses which saved us over 50%. Sold two chairs we weren't using. We continue to eat down the freezer. Sorted through seeds to get ready for the Spring Garden planting - I can hardly stand the wait!
- I snagged a $6 off $75 purchase that someone had left behind at the grocery store register. I can't use it for another week, but I will plan to spend enough to use it next week. Thankfully this store has self scan while you shop so I can be sure to get to $75 so I can use the coupon without going crazy over.
- I've been using proteins we already have on hand / working through the freezer which has been keeping grocery costs down last week and this. One batch of stock = one dinner of soup for us so when I take a turkey carcass out of the freezer for stock it really frees up space. I've got a few more carcasses to go. Since we don't have soup in the summer and winter has been mostly non-existent here this year I'm thinking soup is on the menu every week this month.
- Someone in town was looking for quite a few gallon containers to make planters. Since we drink A LOT of milk, I was able to supply most of what she needed in three weeks. It was nice to hand them over in big batches vs having her drive around picking up 1-2 at a time.
- I waited until this week to buy some things we need online. I've had a gift card for a while, but this week it overlaps with a sale.
- I got our dishwasher repaired under warranty. Zero out of pocket.
1. We invited my parents over to watch the Super Bowl at our place. I made homemade pizza, pulled some wings from the freezer, and made some chip dip based on what we had in the fridge. I did have to buy some chips and mushrooms for the pizza but otherwise everything came from the freezer or pantry. Everyone was overfed and happy.
2. I saw on our calendar that this coming week was going to be busier than normal so I made sure to meal prep over the weekend to avoid eating out.
3. I propagated some of my leggy pothos – I’ll transplant them back to the original pot once they are ready so I can have a fuller plant.
4. I did a little spring cleaning in my pantry – I gave my parents a few food items and canning jars that I won’t be using. I cleaned and reused glass spice bottles that I had in the basement and I moved things around so that the items will catch my eye faster and get used.
5. I made stock using frozen chicken bones and all the veggie scraps for meal prepping. Scrap stock isn’t always perfect for making soups but I do love it for cooking rice and potatoes.
I tried the cheap paint ($2.99 vs. $15) for a craft project and the cheaper option worked great.
I attempted to use some coffee some friends passed along. (They hadn't liked it and unfortunately, I agree with their assessment of the flavor.)
My bluetooth headphones had an accident and I used the warranty (Walmart and All State plan) to replace them. (For me, warranties on Bluetooth headphones are a must. They never last the full two years.)
FFT: Cleaning out Mom's Hoarding House Edition
1. Found a Rubbermaid container filled with small Tupperware that were likely originally intended for spices. After I ran them through the dishwasher, DH is using them for Lego storage.
2. Found a new set of Rubbermaid containers that I brought home to use when sending leftovers home with the kids. Now I won't have to pester them to return my containers. There's another garbage bag full of containers that I will get on my next trip to the house.
3. Found so many containers of quilting fabric and thread. I'll keep the quilt squares Mom already cut to make baby quilts for my someday grandchildren and am donating the rest to someone that makes quilts for homeless people.
4. I have packed up over 25 bags of Mom's clothes and donated them. A lot of them were packed in Rubbermaid containers so we are now majorly stocked on storage containers. Now to figure out what to do with the hundreds of hangers.
5. Filled up the garbage can at the house since I'm still paying for trash service. That much less that will have to go into a dumpster so maybe I can rent a smaller dumpster.
@Beverly, my local thrift store is always looking for hangers.
@Beverly, Some charitable thrift stores may need hangers for their clothing merchandise. I've also seen some of our local thrift stores sell bundles of hangers. A few years ago, I was able to buy a dozen or two for a dollar, which at the time was cheaper than what Walmart was selling them for. I've heard that drycleaners may buy wire coathangers, but I have not ever done this so I don't know for sure. You could also put an ad on Freecycle or a Buy Nothing group that you have hangers to give away; I'm sure someone would love to get some....esp. if they have teenaged daughters, LOL.
@Beverly, Also, any place that has a rack for attendees to hang their coats, (church, event venue), may want hangers. Or a theatre for costumes, choir or band room for uniforms.
1. Best freebie of the week: my husband found a frozen, unopened bag of Dove chocolates on the ground of the grocery parking lot. I seldom find coins on the ground, like so many readers seem to, but we have been the beneficiaries of left behind potatoes, apples, lemons, limes, and now chocolates. I know we have contributed to someone else's finds, too, having left a gallon of milk in the bottom of a cart not once, but twice.
2. Sold a book.
3. Sold a dog kennel that we never used (but bought used) because Pound Hound went berzerk the few times we tried to put him in it. When he got agitated to the point of starting to vomit, we decided it might be connected to the abuse he suffered so we stopped and put it out of sight.
4. I seem to have gone through a cloak phase, as in the back of my closet I had a red velvet cloak (complete with hood), a navy blue wool cloak, and a plaid cloak I had made from material bought at a woolen mill when we lived in Scotland. I sold two of them sometime ago, and I finally decided it was time for the plaid one to go. I sold it to someone who wanted to use the material for a hooked rug she is making. It was ankle length and I am a little over 6 feet tall, so she had a lot of material to work with.
5. Our town as a yearly Bard-o-thon, where people take shifts and they read through all of Shakespeare's works. You can read or stop by and watch others read, and this year they provided a way to listen in from home. It was free entertainment for us for a few hours on Friday night.
@Lindsey, I have not heard of a Bard-o-thon, but a nearby university has a reading of Martin Luther King's works as part of his birthday celebration. A friend coordinated a monthly reading of King's "Letter from a Birmingham Jail" at his church that lasted for several years. I think they just went around the room and each read a paragraph.
I would like to have a banned books reading, in a similar style, for banned books week or library week.
A nearby town always does a Moby-Dick marathon. I'd take part if only I liked the book better.
@Lindsey, an Irish pub in my city hosts an annual "Bloomsday" reading for James Joyce's Ulysses. And 10 years ago when we Janeites celebrated the 200th anniversary of Pride and Prejudice, there was an around-the-world reading, chapter by chapter!
Sometimes early in the morning after my workout class I visit the closest store to me to see what the 30% off stickers are on from the previous day. I may be in picking up milk or a prescription but I then have a good idea as to what will be posted in the flash food app at 50% off that day.
Last week I scored sushi, chicken parmigiana, and a variety of organic fruits and vegetables.
When I’m that early I also check the yellow stickers ending in 4’s . I was able to pick up Gruyère (300 grams) for $.94 ( which I shredded and froze to add to other cheese for cooking) and a 190 gram package of a semi-soft ripened cheese. It regularly sells for $8.99 , last time I purchased it for $.44. This time it was $1.14 but I received $1.00 back in points for the store making each of the 6 I picked up $.14.
I gifted some one dear to me a “ tea package” of items for their birthday.Items like honey, a pottery mug, tea cozy ,tea, tea ball and plate, hot pads for the pot and cup, birthday card were part of the gift. Most of the items were new in online auctions for animal rescue groups, other items were handmade, some supported programs overseas and in North America. The recipient was honoured and I felt like my $$ had done a double duty for this celebration.
I’ve been using a stack of packaged vintage Valentine’s Day cards for the the last couple of decades. Haha….they are even more vintage now:) To two dear family members I made shortbread in some heart molds and am gifting them these with a card.
I have been exploring various free online courses and presentations via zoom. It’s wonderful to take a break and have world class presentations and learning experiences while I eat my lunch or knit an item.
- Instead of getting takeout or buying special Super Bowl snacks, I made homemade soft pretzels with cheese sauce, and bbq meatballs, all using ingredients I already had at home.
- I’ve been working out at home to YouTube videos (just did this am!). I do occasionally need to buy a heavier set of dumbbells, but cost per use is super low since they last forever, and for sure cheaper than a gym.
- We’re planning a family vacation this summer, and I spent some time comparison shopping for airline tickets this weekend. I was able to save $600 AND avoid redeye flights due to some digging.
- I made a meal plan for the week. I didn’t meal plan last week which was fine BUT it did involve two nights of planned takeout and otherwise using up my freezer meals … so I know I’ll be glad I took the time to meal plan and grocery shop.
- I posted our old iron/ironing board wall mount rack on my local Buy Nothing group and a lady picked it up from my porch the next day. Not my first give, but she said she’d just moved here from out of state and forgot to bring theirs in the move and it just made me so happy that I saved trash and gave her a thing that would make her feel more at home and settled.
1. You can also refresh herbs (parsley, cilantro) by putting cold water and a few potato peels in a vase/cup and then putting the herbs in that. They seem to the like the starch.
2. Made my son take the train instead of driving to pick him up from his Florida vacation. Glad he's smart enough about gambling now, too. It's his friend's big birthday so they all dressed in matching horribly ugly shirts from Amazon. Someone asked if they were in a bad and I told him to say K-Pop, but they didn't. Most of the cost of the trip was generously donated by his friend's mom. Nice, I'll have to do something similar.
3. Made chicken enchiladas using scrappy bits of this and that from the pantry.
4. canceled cleaning lady because I wasn't in the mood and had my daughter do most of the cleaning, with a Japanese cheesecake as her reward.
5. Got my son a nice pizza from the local but expensive place (makes its own dough, sauce and cheese) for the football game. I had Rice Krispies since my stomach is still bugging me and my daughter had enchilada leftovers. Plenty of pizza left over for tonight.
Electric tea kettles are one of life's greatest conveniences. Good for you, Kristen!
We are celebrating Christmas in February with kids and grandkids so it's not a frugal week at all. However, I remind myself when my sweet husband is buying six adults and four kids Mod Pizza, salads, and bottled drinks that living frugally the rest of the year makes these crazy splurges not only possible but also very special occasions.
Two frugal things:
--I found a grocery store that has my favorite tea, Yorkshire Gold. I've never seen it in any store near my home. So I bought enough to last several months to avoid buying online.
--A friend gave my husband a cap for his small pick up truck. GAVE for KEEPS! That meant that we did not have to rent a U-haul. That saved us a ton of money and aggravation. We're going to give Mr. Generous all the firewood he wants.
Other unfrugal things:
I can't seem to stop myself from buying fun things for grandkids.
I'm not gonna stop.
When I reconciled my budget this weekend I realized that after a very frugal January, the pendulum had swung in the opposite direction for the first half of February. Some of it was not under my control ( I'm looking at you, $350 plumbing bill) but most of it was under my control (lots of disappointing take-out; shopping at a high-end grocery store). Nevertheless, I did:
1. Make Valentines for friends and co-workers with craft supplies I had on hand.
2. Took inventory of my freezer and made a meal plan to avoid buying anything but produce this weekend.
3. Was careful to turn off lights and turn down the heat when I am out of the house to try and save a little on energy.
4. Cancelled a streaming service I don't use much and a Patreon membership saving $15/month.
5. Accepted the offer of a free smallish dog carrier from a friend since my cat carriers are a bit small for my chonky kitty.
My kiddos love those exact Panera bread cookies too.
1. I picked up a dress off Buy Nothing that I will wear to work.
2. I ordered some toothpaste squeezers off Amazon. They were about $5 for 9 squeezers. Hoping they will help us get all of the toothpaste out of every tube.
3. My mom brought blueberries over, but they were too mushy for snacking. I made blueberry muffins and blueberry bread with them. The blueberry bread will be for my kid's breakfast next week. My mom also brought over 18 eggs. I made French toast with homemade pumpkin bread. I also made turkey soup from a turkey carcass. It will feed my husband and I for lunch all week.
4. We have been faithfully using our YMCA membership for working out, swimming, and all of the fun included kid's activities.
5. My husband owns a Kia SUV. In our area Kia's are at higher risk of being stolen due to some defect. Some insurance companies are also dropping policies for Kia owners. He ordered new decals for $50, to replace the Kia decals on his car, so his car will no longer outwardly look like a Kia. He also bought The Club for $40. So hoping our $90 investment will result in his car not being stolen.
My local cafe has closed for renovations and I decided to make plunger coffee at work instead of buying a daily latte - saving $20 per week.
DH mentioned that the gas station near his work had a 20 cents per litre discount and I had a trip to that part of town - swung by, joined the queue and saved on gas.
We were at the local pub quiz and the announcer had difficulties with the audio system, my DH offer some help ( it is his area of professional expertise). Later the staff gave us a free round of drinks for our table of eight - woohoo! We always buy drinks and snacks on quiz nights but it was nice to receive a complimentary round.
Free transport to concert as ticket works as bus pass.
Usual things - homemade muesli ( granola)/lunches, cycled to work, line dried washing.
1. Cut layers in my hair with the awesome Tingle razor comb bought during the pandemic. It uses single-blade razor blades, making it very inexpensive to use.
2. Today while grocery shopping, the fresh meat case had eight packages of beef marked way down for quick sale. We were low on beef in our home freezer, so I pounced on it. Made a delicious meatloaf for supper and froze the rest.
3. We are halfway through the second month of keeping our grocery budget below $90 a week for 2.5 adults.
4. Two of our dogs have occasional gastric upsets. This past week, both of them had it at the same time but we were able to treat them at home.
5. Sometimes four is all you got.
@Ruby, sometimes 4 is pretty darn impressive. I'm trying to keep groceries to $50/week for 1, and that's proving to be hard. Those darn eggs! But I have resisted getting my own chickens. I look around my neighborhood at the elaborate palaces, I mean coops, my friends have erected , and calculate the losses to raccoons and coyotes, and I figure they're spending about $45/dozen eggs as compared to my $4.50.
My frugal five are very questionable, I mean, creative.... but I'm telling you right now, they did save me money. Humour me, friends!!
1. I went to Costco, a very not frugal thing for my bank account. Because I spent almost $500. Everything costs more in Canada than the US but it's still probably the biggest Costco bill I've ever had. I haven't been since well before Christmas so I was out of a lot of things I normally buy there. I also bought some none grocery items - a t-shirt for me, a golf shirt for my Dad's upcoming birthday, a 2 pack of joggers for me, a throw for my living room (not needed but wanted at $14.99, less than a meal out I justified to myself), a shower head to replace our currently leaking one (which I will install myself therefore cheaper than hardware store and plumber costs) for a grand total of $108 plus tax. All these items were on sale except the shower head. I now don't need to make special trips for my Dad's birthday gift (I'll make his favourite rhubarb muffins to go with the shirt) or the hardware store or to find some comfy and easy clothes for myself for treatment days (badly needed due to weight loss!). One stop shopping with limited energy for the win. Oof, forgot to mention the Lindt chocolate bunnies I still buy my girls for Easter!
2. I was really sad to see prices on most items up yet again, when will it ever stop? The only thing I bought that was still the same price as before Christmas was the organic baby spinach ($4.99). Still though, I didn't buy anything that wasn't a significantly better price to buy bulk (and there were a few things like the 2.7 kg bag of all beef meatballs that I had to price check and calculate the cost to buy at my grocery). I can't justify storing a giant bag of meatballs if the cost is similar to buying 3 smaller ones, in my mind. Because freezer space is at a premium too. That's a frugal win, right?
3. A lot of money out at once however we will not need toilet paper, kleenex, deoderant, tampons etc. and many other shelf stable or frozen groceries for a very long time. I think staying out of the stores saves money, like that throw for the living room. If I'm not there I can't see it's on sale for $14.99, haha!
4. I bought myself lunch, a Costco hot dog and lemonade, still $1.79 plus tax. Frugal win??
5. I used my cash back gift certificate towards the bill, just over $100 off. So the $500 only felt like $400....
I think your $100 certificate is a big win!
1. I was able to use a ½ coupon for roses, as we needed nice roses for a gift. Savings: $12.50
2. The roses from above, plus a bottle of wine, went as a thank you to a kind couple who watched Baby E for us while I had a procedure done, and I wanted DH to be there for moral support. Cheapest child care we’ll ever have, I think!
3. I was able to use another ½ off coupon for roses (another gift- our friends who graciously housed us for the last three weeks while traveling) by having my husband sign up for the customer club as well. Savings: $12.50
4. I returned a few items to a store, and while I was there I saw that all children’s items were marked as 40% off. I asked the clerk if she could do a price adjustment of the children’s items on my receipt that I had purchased a few weeks before, and although she seemed confused by it she kindly did adjust the price. Total savings: almost $30.
5. I saw that Starbucks was changing their stars redemption rules, doubling the “cost” to redeem a free pastry and increasing the “cost” of a free drink. I only earn stars through playing their free games and am not a regular customer. Anyway, I wanted to have time to journal and think, and I was able to use all my stars on the last day before prices increased. Savings: about $10
6. DH’s aunt sent us home with about 20 Covid tests, which came on top of the 4 I just received from the latest round of free ones through USPS. Since we rarely need them, I will give most of them away and keep about 8.
7. We finally used the last of a Grub Hub gift card we received a year ago. It took us a long time to use because we don’t eat out much, the prices were higher than ordering directly from the restaurant, and it ended up being a hassle to redeem the gift card. So a win to get it out of our inventory! And it was nice to not have to cook after coming home from traveling.
8. Received a Rakuten check for $6.62 (yay, cash back!), but this is also frugal because I don’t shop online much.
9. Used my own bags at the grocery store, saving $0.25 after a 5 cents/bag discount.
1. I went to the thrift store Saturday to complete my winter shoe wardrobe. (There is a shoe factory in my city and it often donates huge crates of shoes to this store. New shoes, never worn. Super comfortable!) They usually cost $10 a pair at the thrift store, but it was half-price day. Five bucks a pair for new shoes! I used my punch card from previous purchases -- every time you spend X amount of money, they punch your card and when it's full, you get $5 off. I also found a shirt I liked. Final tally: two pairs of very stylish booties (short boots); two pair of tennis shoes; two pairs of flats and one long-sleeved T-shirt, $32 (including tax). I wore a pair of my new boots to church and got a lot of compliments on them. And did I mention the shoes were brand new brand named shoes, have built-in arch supports (super comfortable) and sell on the internet for $60 or $80 or more?
2. The above-mentioned store gave you some freebies with every purchase. I got two packages of disposable plastic drinking glasses, a box of 48 small bottles of hand sanitizer and a gallon of gel hand sanitizer. I donated the glasses to my church -- they can be used the next time we have a seminar in the fellowship hall; the church often has a pitcher of ice water and glasses out on the side table. Pastor said it doesn't matter that the glasses have a hotel's name printed on them. Since this is the Sunday before Feb. 14, I gave out the bottles to folks at church and said "hands down, you're my Valentine," and everyone got a kick out of it. I'm still trying to figure out who'll need a gallon of sanitizing gel, but I'm too frugal (or maybe too cheap) to turn down a free gift. I may give it to the homeless shelter, as I already am stocked up with hand sanitizer (previously obtained) that'll last me a long time.
3. One of my friends is always running out of soda straws; she doesn't like to leave lipstick marks on her drinking glasses. At another thrift store, I'd found a huge unopened package of 100 straws for 50 cents. Since they were all different colors, looked pretty, and were contained within a clear plastic package, I incorporated them into a Valentine's gift basket for her. Also used a decorative box for the basket. It was stored away in my gift closet, but I'd paid a whopping 25 cents for it at the neighbor's garage sale. Oh, and I re-used a decorative shopping bag for the whole thing. Again, it was from the gift closet. Along with some greeting cards I'd bought for 25 cents each from -- you guessed it! -- another thrift store.
4. I had (tearfully) parted with some nice clothes that are too small for me, along with some decorative items (I'm slowly downsizing). I'd taken them into a consignment boutique before Christmas. I got a $20 check for another item that has sold. Easy peasey, and more $$ than I could get via a garage sale. Bonus: I turned around and got a cute pullover buffalo check sweater on clearance at Walmart for $5. The rest of the money goes into my savings account.
5. We recently had some freezing, rainy weather and a big limb came down from my oak tree. So, a few days later when it got warmer, I told a friend if he'd come over with his chainsaw, he could have the wood for his fireplace. (I don't have a chainsaw or a wood-burning fireplace). He was happy to oblige. This is a win-win situation: I get the limb hauled off for free (the city would've charged me to do this), and he gets free firewood (he may have to let it season for a year, if it's too green to burn right now, but he has a woodpile). I also got him to help put the brush (smaller branches, twigs and leaves, etc.) in my trash can. Score!
I can't stop laughing at the comment about the washing machines moving across the floor in the dorm.
FFT
1) I am also a big card and letter writer, this is my mother and grandmother's DNA at work. I spent time this week going through and organizing all my stationary, cards, and postcards to remind me what I have. Have bought nothing new in years and I am a regular sender.
2) We are still getting ourselves set in place poat move back to our home country (mostly due to pending small remodels fornwhich I cannotnfind any help) and consolidated all my office supplies in my desk so we both kniw what we have. Saves a bundle to know what one already has to hand.
3) Also made really good lentil soup with aĺl "forgotten" ingedients.
4) Dipping into coin box as needed to pick up bread and such vs breaking a bill. I find this to be a fun challenge. I will find a bank that takes the coins (disnthis all the time as a kid) in exchange for the bill someday.
5) Still avoiding much transportation cost by walking vs the bus or metro ticket. Clocking in between 10k - 16k steps a day multiple times a week.
I'm forever looking for meat to go on sale--it always feels like such a win when I find some. When I saw some ground beef at Sam's Club marked down to nearly half of its price, I bought like 20 pounds, which lasted us MONTHS. They haven't done that kind of deal again since, but I won't lose hope 🙂
Here are my weekly frugal wins:
https://www.toloveandtolearn.com/2023/02/14/weekly-frugal-wins-eye-exams-new-contacts/
1. Bought a replacement lid and insulated silicone sleeve for my very old and well used Nagalene water bottle. It was sill cheaper than buying even a discount off brand insulated water bottle for daily use.
2. Crocheted a needed scarf and matching ear warmer from a skein of sale yarn that I bought so long ago I forgot what I originally planned to make with it.
3. I donated a bunch of old socks to Smartwool for recycling into dog bed stuffing. They gave me a coupon that I probably won’t use (they have $$ shipping) but I’ll hang onto just in case. I’m more concerned with keeping another thing out of the landfill and finding a good reuse for something that is generally unusable.
4. I started crocheting wash cloths to use as dust cloths and for cleaning from bits of scratchy yarn I inherited. This might be heresy in cotton dishcloth circles (which I also have and use,) but I like how the acrylic yarn has a little more tooth for cleaning sinks and such than a cotton rag. Also, I get to learn and practice new stitches while making a practical thing I’ll use rather than a toy that will gather dust on a shelf.
5. My local Bed Bath and Beyond is having a store closing sale. I bought a few needed things, a Christmas present, and a couple of wants — cedar moth blocks for our closets and a set of silicone bowl covers to replace the few times we used dreaded plastic wrap. The discounts were at 20% which didn’t make everything a bargain, which I reminded myself when I was tempted by something not on my look and see wish list.
1) My husband and I celebrated Valentines Day one day early because I am out of town tonight. We watched a Netflix special from our favorite comedian and ate Aldi Valentines cupcakes after the kids went to bed. It might not scream special and romantic, but it was perfect for us.
2) I packed food for my trip out of town so I don't have to eat at restaurants or spend the time and money to uber to a grocery store.
3) I strategized my travel because it is kind of complicated this week. I left on the train but am returning by plane. Of course our train station and airport are connected only by an expensive uber ride. So I figured out it was cheaper to uber to the train station and avoid parking fees. Then my husband can pick me up at the airport.
4) I took my sewing with me to the conference I attended this weekend. In between sessions I finally ironed and pinned up the seams in the curtain I started altering a long time ago, repaired a ripped stuffed animal, darned a knitted glove, and cut out and pinned the pieces for a baby shower gift for a friend.
5) Sunday we meal-planned and grocery-shopped. I turned the thermostat down a couple of degrees because the gas bill has been so high, and it is supposed to be warmer this week. I opted for the cheaper airbnb for upcoming travel. I'm reading library books to the boys. We have the appliance repair man coming tomorrow to look at the dishwasher; he might say at 15 years old it is caput, but if there is a chance I can fix it again I will. And I canceled Spotify because I am no longer commuting by car, which was about the only time I listened to music.
I am the same way about the wilted lettuce! And when you have limp carrots, putting them in a glass of water can crisp them right up too. It really is like magic!
Not sure I have 5 but we will see.
Received cherries as a substitute for grapes. Noone else likes them &I don't like pitting them but didn't want to waste so I ate them.
Checked out prices on all the grocery apps before ordering. Surprisingly Walmart is not the cheapest on most things. Kroger won out.
Stuck to needs on the list no wishes.
Returned new phones when husband was able to fix old onespaid off remodeling on bathrooms. Kept shower ,tub &toilets to keep price down on remodeling. Did better than I thought.
1. We were given leftovers from an event in a club our kids are part of, so we've been eating those leftovers for a few days. BBQ and coleslaw!
2. I bought a friend a book from Goodwill that I knew she's wanting to read.
3. I bought several canisters of coffee marked down half price, so when the splurged K cups just ran out, we've started back to the regular coffeepot with the clearanced coffee.
4. I have been collecting things from around the house to try to sell on eBay.
5. I was putting my husband's auto insurance info into his glove box and I found a Menards rebate credit certificate for $16 from 2016. I'm gonna see if it's still spendable! (And husband is banned from hanging onto any more gift cards. This is the second gift card I've found in a week that is old. The other rebate credit from a tire shop expired in October.)
Fetch only gives me 25 points per receipt, unless I've purchased something offering higher points? Do you know why you would get 300 for each?
My frugal list is a travel list because we've been on the road for the past week. My husband was traveling for business & asked me to go along.
1) frugal lodging: 5 night free nights at a hotel, plus 2 nights we paid business rate & 2 more nights with family
2) We ate the hotel breakfast & I also took fruit & yogurt to the room for my lunch while my husband was at work.
3) For 5 days all of my husband's meals were covered, so he had some really great meals.
4)I used some Starbuck's stars for some free pastries.
5) I used Walmart plus to save .10 a gallon on gas
6) We stayed with my husband's cousin who fed us the entire time...even eating out once & sending us home with leftovers.
7) We carried food for eating on the road.
8) I also got a free meal when I took a day to visit my aunt who lived a few hours from where we were staying. She cooked lunch for us.
9) I carried some crafting a spent quite a bit of time in the room just playing with crafts rather than out shopping. I also walked the local parks for free.
That was a limited-time promotion on Fetch, I guess! I'm glad I took advantage of it when it was there.
I tried your ibotta referral code (QG8V2), and it couldn't find it. Do you have a new one?
So, that one should be for Fetch, not Ibotta. I actually don't have Ibotta!