Five Frugal Things | on a Monday!
I know, we always do Five Frugal Things on Tuesdays.
But last week I did one on Wednesday and now I'm doing on on Monday.
That's because it's Sunday night as I'm writing this, I don't have any Meet a Reader submissions in the queue, and I needed a somewhat quick post to write because I've spent allll day studying for my Monday exam.
1. I fixed Zoe's red sweatshirt
She works at Target, so she either has to wear a red Target vest or a red shirt, and I'm proud to say that she has thrifted a bunch of her red tops. I will say, GenZ is not afraid to thrift, and I love that!
Anyway, one of her thrifted red sweatshirts got ripped right by the tag area in the back.
I found some red thread in my sewing box.
And then I set up my sewing machine. Chiquita was interested in the spare bobbin.
She got it.
And after she got the bobbin, she came to bother me.
Good thing she's cute or I would be very annoyed.
ANYWAY. Eventually, I got a scrap piece of fabric sewn on the inside.
And now the outside, while not perfect, is passably good.
2. I fixed Zoe's jeans
Zoe's work jeans sprouted a hole too!
So, I sewed a scrap piece of denim on the inside, using yellow thread to hide my stitching.
Then I used blue thread to hand sew around the hole, to keep the hole from getting any bigger.
The finished product looks basically like the un-mended version, which is fine. The hole was tiny, and now it's tightly secured to the inner denim patch, and it won't get bigger, at least not for a while.
I am happy to say that Zoe promptly wore both of these repaired items. 🙂 I'm happy she's getting more use out of them!
3. I printed papers at school
I needed to print out a bunch of pages of an OB lab packet, plus other homework, plus some forms (med card forms, blank concept maps, etc).
Sooo, I popped into the school library and printed all of those for free.
I mean, obviously, I pay for this privilege because it's rolled into my college tuition.
But it costs me nothing extra to use this service, so I make a point of it when I have a lot of stuff to print.
4. I caught all of my avocados before it was too late
I got a bunch of small avocados in my last Hungry Harvest box, so I put them on my open shelving in the kitchen to ripen.
And I am proud to say, I did not let any of them get overripe! I noticed them all when they got soft, and I remembered to put them in the fridge (because that pauses ripe avocados very nicely).
I used them in several scrambled egg burritos, along with cilantro (which is another food that's easy to waste!).
5. I keep on packing my lunch
Am I eating a lot of peanut butter and honey sandwiches on whole wheat bread?
Yup.
It's not exciting, but it IS quick, easy, and cheap! I also throw several containers of cut-up fruits and veggies into the lunchbox for sides, and I'm good to go.
Chiquita is so funny!
My FFT:
1. Made chili using cheap ingredients and will get at least two dinners out of it.
2. Ate up leftovers for breakfast, lunch and dinner on Saturday. This is less of a chore when your original food options were really good to begin with.
3. Finished moving logs from my tree that died to border my garden. The yard is looking much better with my garden every day resolution.
4. Turned down my handyman's plan to fix my planter boxes in favor of a DIY plan. It'll be more work, but should be free instead of the insane price he quoted. If it fails, I can always fall back on his plan.
5. Switched my cats back to dry food since my diabetic one seems to be doing ok in remission. Fingers crossed. Dry food is so much less work in addition to being cheaper.
I hope your exam goes well today!
Hi Kristen! If you learn about asthma, can you please share info about it in a post? Thank you.
Ah, Chiquita. Those are some great story-telling shots!
--The trigger mechanism inside the handle for our Hoover Pet Dash broke, which meant it couldn’t squirt cleaning solution when shampooing the carpet. The Hoover website wanted $32 + $10 shipping for a new handle vs. the gently used one I found on eBay for $18 and free shipping. Guess which handle won? 😛 The rest of the rug shampooer works just fine, so this $18 will save me the cost of buying a replacement machine.
—Apparently Seventeen Magazine produced a line of bedding at one point?! I had no idea until I thrifted a fuchsia velvet comforter and sham set, all but new, for $4! Velvet is fast becoming our house’s signature cloth, started by the Goodwill $20 green velvet Opalhouse comforter that adorns our bed. Thanks to my fuchsia find, my office couch/hide-a-bed has joined the swanky fun.
—The same trip to our local thrift shop also netted two new heavy thermal shirts and a pair of jeans, all for my husband, for $15. His outdoor job is hard on clothes (see below), so hunting for well-made things second hand is both a constant and a must.
--I mended an 8" split down the leg of one of his work jeans, reinforced with scrap fabric from my jeans (I always have to shorten/hem mine). A differet pair of work jeans was unsalvageable, so they're now my yard work pants. I need a belt to keep them up and have to roll the cuffs several inches, but they just need to get dirty and paint splattered, so no worries.
—The heel started to come off my hard-soled slippers after their latest wash. Epoxy to the rescue!
Good luck on the exam, Kristen!
Now, FFT, Monday Morning Miscellany:
(1) I took my semi-annual bagful of thrift shopping mistakes to Clothes Mentor last Thursday and got $35 in store credit, of which I spent part on a lovely J. Jill top and a new-in-package set of three Jockey brand undies.
(2) I went to the bakery outlet Friday and got three loaves of Arnold's whole wheat and a package of hot dog buns for a total of $5.
(3) Having sampled a Wegmans Italian Classic frozen pizza recently (I had a digital coupon on it) and decided I can make a better pizza at home, I made one Saturday afternoon with olives, onions, mushrooms, and a little Gianelli turkey sausage as toppings.
(4) Unfortunately, in getting the cast iron pan I use for pizza out of the oven, I burned my left hand, not badly but painfully. (The pot holder slipped.) I cut a bottom leaf off one of my aloe plants, split it open, and applied it to the burn off and on for the next hour. The next morning, the pain was gone, and there was next to no trace of the burn.
(5) And I celebrated my annual Ignore the Super Bowl tradition last night by taking a good book to bed at 8 pm. Cost = $0.
@A. Marie,
I hear you on the Super Bowl. We streamed a show and went to bed before the game was over.
@K D,
I watched an old Thin Man movie. I was given all of them on DVD for my birthday one year.
@A. Marie, we had a bakery outlet near my old house and I loved it! They sold naan bread and pitas and even tortillas for $1. We don't have one anywhere near my new house.
@A. Marie, We also have continued our Ignore the Super Bowl streak (25 years and counting!). We played a board game, watched Wild Wild West (the old TV show, NOT the movie), had pizza, and then I read up until bedtime.
@A. Marie, before having a young child to take care of, I would go grocery shopping during the Super Bowl. The store isn't crowded and the shelves are stocked.
@Noel,
That's brilliant!
@A. Marie, oh my how we miss the bakery outlets of old !!! Is the banish of them just a So Cal phenomenon ??? Also quite curious about credit vouchers in exchange for the items you take to the charity shop. Is this unique to this specific shop or is it geographic.??
@brendalynne1, Clothes Mentor isn't a charity shop; it's a chain of shops around the US that differ from typical consignment shops in that they give you immediate cash or store credit when you take stuff in. The payoff in store credit is always more than the cash payoff, so I always take the credit.
@JD, I remember years ago watching The Thin Man. Enjoy.
@Karen A., My Super Bowl philosophy is, "If the Dallas Cowboys aren't playing, why bother?"
Guess you can tell where I'm from! LOL.
@A. Marie, it's good to know that there are other folks in the Ignore the Stupor Bowl Club.
@Fru-gal Lisa, so I guess you haven’t watched it since the 90s? Ha. I’m in DFW.
I feel like lately I've been spending money more than saving it, but it's still in pursuit of a form of frugality, I guess. Like so . . .
-My oven was taking forever to heat up and also there was a worrisome smell of propane, so I did some online diagnosing and ordered a new oven igniter online.
--While I was at it, I ordered a new gasket/seal for the oven door, because the bottom piece had come off at some point. The total for the two parts was about $80, which is cheaper than getting a new oven. And not that it's an option for me here really, but I don't have to pay to have someone fix it for me. My husband will do it.
--I FINALLY replaced the drawer slider for the deli drawer in my refrigerator. I'd had the part for, um, three months. It was only about $15, but that would still be $15 if I hadn't put the stupid thing in.
--Big shout-out to YouTube and all the helpful dudes on there who post how-to fix-it videos. Parts don't do you any good if you don't know what to do with them.
--My eldest son's birthday was yesterday. He was with me at the store when we were getting his birthday dinner food. He loves seafood. I do not, so this is his big opportunity to get it. He chose shrimp and lobster tail. And then some boudin sausage. The lobster tail was $$$$, but none of our family had ever tried it and it was his birthday request. I figured $18 (for two! small! lobster tails!) was way cheaper than going to a restaurant or something.
@kristin @ going country, Oh! Bonus #6! I was not aware that eBay allows you to buy some things even if you don't have an account with them (I think this was not the case years ago when I last looked there?), but I discovered this when searching for books for Easter baskets. My daughter is lately into the American Girl books, and I was looking for the set about Samantha because someone gave her an old Samantha doll. Those books are way overpriced--as is pretty much everything associated with the American Girl empire--but I found them for about half price on eBay. It was a set price listing, and I could check out as a guest. Just thought I'd mention this for anyone else who didn't know you could do this on eBay.
@kristin @ going country, I wish I still had my daughter's Samantha set. It's so, so cute. Plus she had the sleigh with horse and the carriage with horse. I put aside a couple special dolls to keep and gave the other 5000 bits to my sister to keep for her daughter. Aaaaand her daughter couldn't have cared less about the historical figures. Sigh. My sister probably sold it all.
@kristin @ going country, A friend who is perhaps not even forty was freaking out at the newest American Girls "historic" figures, twins Isabel and Nicki Hoffman. They are from 1999.
@kristin @ going country,
Way back in the original American Girl doll days, DD1 asked for Felicity (colonial) and DD2 requested Addy (civil war). DD2 used Addy and her accompanying book and items as part of a report on slavery at school and it was a hit. I remember seeing Samantha; she had some cute accessories as I recall.
@Heidi Louise, Oh man. That's brutal. I had already finished high school in 1999. Gonna start telling my kids I'm not old, I'm historic. 🙂
I had my first baby in 1999. Ha.
@kristin @ going country, I agree: BIG shout out to the You Tube people who post how to fix it videos. We have saved hundreds since finding out what a great resource You Tube is for the unhandy.
@kristin @ going country, I'm on my lunch break at work, so I looked up these dolls. The accessories for them are literally making me laugh out loud. One of the outfits looks exactly like Alicia Silverstone in "Clueless," and they sell a Pizza Hut BOOK IT! set for them.
The 70s one was my generation. I kind of loved her, actually.
@kristin @ going country, I got married in 1999. I like to tell my kids I was born in a whole different century, nay, a millenium!
@kristin @ going country, I have my samantha doll in the attic, she’s in pretty rough shape but I do have a lot of the outfits for her. I also found the complete set of her books in the little free library near our house so I have those saved too. My daughter is only 3 so not quite ready yet but she does like baby dolls so hopefully she’s into it!
@kristin @ going country,
(Cough cough) I graduated from high school in 1979. I'm prehistoric. 🙂
@kristin @ going country, My oldest kiddo's birthday was also yesterday. 🙂 She requested a taco bar, which is great because leftovers keep so well!
Also, I thought of you last night... My friend brought elk meat to our Super Bowl party! It really was delicious. Her stepdad got the elk.
@Liz B., I'm probably a year older than you, so perhaps you will understand my jaw dropping when, about twenty-five years ago, one of my college students said in discussion, "When my grandfathers fought in Vietnam."
My grandfathers' war was WWI.
@kristin @ going country, @Heidi Louise, et al., you kidlets aren't even THINKING about being old. Will anyone else out there who can vividly remember the weekend of JFK's assassination (I was 8 at the time) raise a withered claw?
@A. Marie, I can only remember as far back as Reagan getting shot, but I'm lifting a claw in solidarity
@Suz, I can remember the moon landing when I was four.
@Suz, When Reagan was shot I was sixteen and our teacher told us in school. I said, "GOOD!" and got yelled at.
@A. Marie, I remember watching JFK's funeral on TV with my grandfather, who was born in 1875. He married late in life and lived to be two months short of 102 years old.
@A. Marie, I vividly remember the day our fifth grade teacher somberly returned to the classroom and let us know what happened...
@A. Marie, yes. I was 6
@Heidi Louise,
Yup....one of my sisters teaches history/social studies, and has in recent years started having students who weren't alive (or were infants) when 9/11 happened. She shows video footage of the World Trade Towers being hit, and falling, in her classroom when they study it, and her students don't understand why it makes her cry.
@A. Marie,
I was about 2 when JFK was shot, but remember seeing the Zapruder film some years later. I definitely remember when both Reagan and John Lennon were shot. (Raises claw in solidarity).
@LB, If her hair is in rough shape, there are YouTube videos on how to fix it by washing it with fabric softener.
I found a Felicity doll at Goodwill and fixed her hair after watching a video. Set it in foam curlers to dry. She is beautiful once again.
It's so great that you can pass your doll on to your daughter.
@A. Marie, I definitely remember it. I was 11. And the Sunday morning after as well when Ruby shot Oswald.
@Carolyn, I was alone in the living room with the TV on that Sunday when Ruby shot Oswald, and I ran into the kitchen screaming for my mother.
And @Ruby (no relation to that other Ruby, thank goodness), that's an amazing story about your grandfather.
@Suz, I was in the cafeteria having lunch in 7th grade when the announced over the loudspeaker that Kennedy had been shot.
@A. Marie, Claw lifted here in Fairbanks.
@A. Marie,
I was in third grade when JFK died. The girl who later grew into my roommate-from-hell was my BFF then. She suggested we go to the front of our school when they dismissed us early (we usually walked out the back door); she wanted to see the flag at half-staff. I don't think we'd ever seen it fly at half-staff before then. Or if it had, we'd been too young to notice. But we noticed it that day...and on several more sad occasions: RFK, MLK, even Winston Churchill.
@Liz B., you are not alone. I still have a few articles of clothing from that era (mom saved them). Not that I'm that much heavier than in the day, the weight isn't where it once was lol. But one daughter wore the vintage outfit for Halloween (disco anyone?). Yeah American Girls were a hot item, easy Xmas gifts for the grandmas. I think we still have the American Girls game somewhere in the house. Other daughter did take her doll and most of the accessories.
@A. Marie, I just remember his funeral bumped cartoons. I know it wasn't RFK because at the time we just had a B&W TV.
@Liz B., I graduated in 1975. I am an antique little girl, I refuse to get old. It was worth it, we had the best music!!!
@A. Marie, I totally remember it.
@A. Marie, I was 15 and in high school.
@Anne, and my father-in-law was born in 1900 and my grandson was born in 2000.
@A. Marie, I had just turned 4 and I remember hearing about it from a builder who was remodeling our house. His name was Mitch. Why do I remember this??
1. We had some warm and sunny days last week so I opened the front door in the afternoon (our house faces south and the storm door is mostly glass) for both a bit of solar heating and additional light.
2. I went to Target with DD and she had Kleenex on her list. You received a $10 gift card if you bought three multi packs. It was almost like getting a third package for free so I talked her into buying three instead of one. I keep gently pushing money saving techniques.
3. I stopped by the Grocery Outlet on my way to a friend's house. They had an online coupon to save $5 on a $25 order. I used it to get very good prices on RxBars and Lara Bars (healthy-ish snacks). It does not bother me in the least to eat Pumpkin Spice flavors this time of years and they were greatly discounted.
4. I took my hybrid CR-V in for safety recall work. I waited the two hours for the work to be done and enjoyed myself since I had my laptop and a book with me.
5. I submitted a claim for FSA reimbursement. I requested the funds come from our 2023 account but it was processed with 2024 funds. I contacted them and they were able to correct the problem. We still have some 2023 funds to spend by March 15th.
That reminds me: I finally found my favorite cashmere sweater and the moths have been snacking on it. Gotta mend it.
I also need to buy a new printer because I'm tired of printing stuff at the library. Why I can't just pay my dog license online, I do not know. Also my rental registration. Nope, gotta print something out, find my checkbook, stamp and an envelope. How quaint. Last year I had to go to court for scofflawing the dog license because I kept forgetting.
As usual, nothing much frugal here. The gas cap broke in my car yesterday (???) and I can't get it out so it will have to be towed to the mechanics, the same ones who fixed our broken key issue.
I figured out why the dishwasher was broken. It needed a new water hose. Why did it need a new water hose? Because the old one, apparently, was used by rats to get into the kitchen. Yes, I was greeted by a rat in the dishwasher yesterday. Yet another phone call I need to make.
And my team didn't win the Puppy Bowl.
@Rose, The important question: Was the rat alive or dead? Neither is great, but I would rather a dead rat than a live one.
@kristin @ going country, Alive and struggling to get out. Siiiigh. I still have PTSD from the rat invasion 20 years ago.
@kristin @ going country, Frankly, a little surprised you couldn't hear my scream!
I would TOTALLY have screamed, just from the shock.
@Rose, I think it's all quite frugal considering you now have more material for your future best-seller 🙂 Investment in your future.
@Rose,
Rat in the dishwasher?
I'd be out the front door...lol.
It could be worse...one friend of mine went to make coffee one morning and her son's pet tarantula was on top of the carafe.
$1200 for the exterminator. Great.
@April, omg, a rat in the dishwasher. Rose, how did you dispose of it? How did you even catch it? But a tarantula on the coffee carafe? I would have moved instantly, put the house up for sale and the son up for adoption.
@Anne, I closed the door and started a cycle. I'm sure it scurried out fast. The exterminator did come and leave bait stations outside and in my experience, they work. (See how fast my principles about not poisoning raptors etc go south. But, you know, RATS. In my house!)
@Rose, My goodness! Just the two mice we had last year made me yelp. My DH grew up in a house that regularly had rats (and wasps, and bats) and he has a vivid memory of getting up before everyone else, coming down to get breakfast, and having to do battle with a rat before he could pour himself some cereal. He killed it with a broom. He was twelve. And HE jumps at mice, too--and then gets serious. Our hope is that was a one-off mouse incursion AND that Mr. Clark deters any further hopeful nesters.
@Anne,
Lol...ya....the creepy crawlie is apparently ever the opportunist and gets out on a fairly regular basis due to son not being to diligent about either putting the spider back in it's habitat or making sure the lid is properly put on.
He's 16 and I also suspect that he finds varied reactions from people about his critter running wild hilarious.
I've told him if the hairy thing gets on me in any way I'd kick his butt so hard his brain will hurt.
I realize spiders are beneficial and I admire their webs but OUTSIDE is where they belong imo.
@Rose, our dog died last year and I was surprised how aggressive the dog licensing was. We forgot to notify them and they sent us to collections for not paying the registration (the only way to notify them was to call between set hours and tell someone over the phone, you couldn’t just go online and check a box saying you didn’t have the dog anymore)
Also, we had a rat twice break our dishwasher by nesting underneath it and chewing through wires, and then spent an exorbitant amount to rat proof our house (worth it though, no rats since then)
@Rose,
I screamed when a mouse crossed my path in our basement. A rat would send me over the edge.
Also, ugh about moths feasting on wool and cashmere. I helped a friend clean out her parent's house (which had been her grandparent's house before it became her parent's home)....they apparently never threw anything away. I found gorgeous wool and cashmere clothes from the 40s, 50s and 60s that were way beyond repair. Unhappy sigh. I did rescue a newer Ralph Lauren cashmere and wool blend dress coat for my husband that is the perfect size (no moth holes, miraculously).
@Karen A., For me, after having rats, a couple mice feel sort of friendly, like they'll wear a little red waistcoat and hand knit sweaters and pull out a pipe.
We did once have raccoons get into the void between the second floor ceiling and the roof (no attic). My tenant called and said she'd heard growing coming from the ceiling. Sigh. I called the exterminator and he brought the kill traps, which I still feel guilty about 15 years later. But I need them gone immediately.
growling. not growing.
@Rose,
They were probably doing both, though. Growling and growing.
@Rose,
Yikes. And I thought discovering a dead mouse in an open honey jar was bad.
@Rose, we rented a house with the option to buy many years ago, back in the '80s. My daughter was about 2-3 years old at the time, and my husband was only about a year and a half post stroke. It was an old house, but only 4 blocks from the hospital where I worked, so we were really hoping to buy it.
Then I began to hear scrabbling noises, and squeaks, and figured a mouse must have a nest between the kitchen floor and the ceiling of the basement. But the droppings were pretty big for a mouse, and then I found droppings in my daughter's room--and she was an expert at getting out of bed in the night and crawling in with us from her dad's side so I didn't wake up.
So I set a rat trap in the kitchen one night, and woke up to rat screams and bangings from that direction. Once it was morning, and quiet, I found the dead rat lying in the trap on the kitchen floor. It freaked me out and I felt terrible about what the rat went through, but I would have felt waayyy more terrible had my daughter been bitten.
Never saw any more mice or rats, so they either died or made it out of the house. probably traumatized themselves.
We didn't buy the house.
@StephanieLD, with my previous rat infestation, the exterminators set traps behind furniture and in the basement, etc. The first trap, under the TV armoire, went off while the exterminator truck was leaving our driveway. I thought, oh, he didn't set it correctly then gathered all my courage and looked. Ugh. Ran down the driveway and the exterminator took it. The little darlings gnawed all over our electrical wiring back there.
@April, I'm going to be honest with you, I would NOT visit that house.
Good luck today on your exam. Chiquita is such a funny and curious kitty! I love to see photos of her. My Calico Kitty, who looks very similar, is 16 years old. Although she is not quite as playful as Chiquita any longer, she would love to bat around that bobbin too.
Not a frugal week. My husband's grandpa was sent home with there's nothing we can do, let him die at peace at home with family. So he's been going over there in another county every day after work as well as picking up anything they need from the store for them. Financially it's been an expensive week for us.
Frugally:
Used up all leftovers.
Was given canned goods, apple juice, and powdered milk.
Books and DVDs from the library.
@Jess, My heart goes out to your family. Wishing for you all strength, love and peace.
@Jess, I'm sorry for your situation. It's never easy. And while I like traveling, that kind of traveling is just the worst.
@Jess, So sorry; that's such a hard thing.
@Jess,
Hugs.
So many hugs to you and yours.
@Jess, I'm so very sorry. Losing a loved one is so incredibly hard.
@Jess, Good man, your husband. I am sorry for you guys; the dying process is so hard. Grandpa is lucky to be getting his wish to die at home.
Awww, Jess, I am so sorry. I hope that his passing is as peaceful as one can hope for, and I am so glad that he is able to spend his last days with his family at home.
@Jess, I add my sympathy and good wishes to everyone else's. I wish your DH's grandpa a peaceful and painless passing, and I admire your DH's devotion.
@Jess,
I'm so sorry about your husband's grandfather....it's never easy to hear that nothing can be done, even if it is the case. I'm glad his grandfather has all of you nearby. Hugs to you all.
Thank all of you 🙂
1. We put weather stripping on 2 of our exterior doors, this is helping tremendously with drafts and should help our gas bill.
2. We're doing some serious decluttering, I've been surprised at how much we've found to get rid of. Most is going to Goodwill, but I did get $55 off a bed and box spring with on Fb.
3. I made a crockpot of pinto beans to be used for future meals. Such a cheap protien.
4. I went for a run/walk. Free exercise.
5. Bought several sale items at the store.
I LOVE thew sewing machine photo! What a funny kitty.
1. I meal-planned and went to the discount grocery store.
2. We had a babysitter over for a trial run, so I stayed home while she played with my daughter. I used the time to cook for the week: lentil soup for my lunches, cottage pie for dinner Monday and Tuesday, and a huge batch of granola.
3. I bought a sweater on Facebook marketplace, instead of buying new.
4. When I was on call, I ate the leftovers from the resident appreciation lunch for dinner (tofu curry on rice) instead of buying takeout.
5. My lunch for today is already packed. It never occurred to me that I should meal-plan my lunches on Sunday, but I think it'll make this a good week!
Best wishes for your exam. You've got this.
I don't feel like I've had a lot of particularly frugal wins because 1) we went out for a lunch date when I went to face therapy and 2)I have a cold, so I'm a little negative. But I'll try. Here goes. I can do this on a Monday morning, right?
1. We gratefully accepted a big box of free food, and I've been directing kids to apples and bananas for snacks since Wednesday.
2. We've been using up lots of carrots that were bought very cheaply: carrot salad with raisins and pineapple, carrots in smoothie, carrots in a stir-fry, and roasted carrots.
3. We went to the library.
4. Coffee at home.
5. My husband found an interesting scholarship opportunity/writing contest that suits our family, so I dragged out a few books on the topic for the kids to look at for research. Since there are several monetary prizes, I will be highly encouraging this for the kids and considering if there's something I can write.
@Jody S.,
Carrot and raisin salad used to be my favorite salad as a child. I haven’t made it in years, because my husband hates raisins. He says they look like dead flies. One of many good hang ups from his childhood. Maybe I’ll try again. It took me 35 years, but I was finally able to get him to eat beets.
@Bee, Perhaps dried currants instead of raisins? They are similar, but small so there isn't the same squish when you bite them, (and expensive).
@Bee,
Oh, my. You reminded me of a big family meal in which my aunt, who took care of the house for my widowed grandfather, served a new soft, layered chocolate dessert studded with chocolate chunks and nuts. My dry, reserved grandfather looked silently at his bowl for a second then asked quietly, "I don't guess any of those things have legs on them, do they?" Of course, that became a family saying immediately.
Or what about Indian carrot salad? I like the kind with black mustard seeds, but there are a zillion ways to make it.
@Bee, You could always make a batch of salad without the raisins, and add raisins into your serving!
@Rose, I'll have to look into that. I've never had it.
@Karen A.,
That solution is so obvious and I never thought of it. Sometimes I miss the simple things all together.
@JD,
That’s priceless!
@Heidi Louise,
I thought about golden raisins also. He will eat dates too. I can make it and he can eat raw carrots as his veg.
Put the bean soup I made into the freezer and will serve it for a St. Patrick's Day lunch for the early arrivers. I will also be making some pea soup with some leftover ham from the freezer, too, for St. Patrick's Day.
Made chicken soup with a carcass from a whole chicken leftover. Will be eating that for lunch this week as it did not make a lot. Used up some veggies that were getting close to prime garbage. Supposed to be cool again this week, so soup will be great for lunch.
Ate dinner mostly every night at home; only 1 night did we eat out - National Pizza Day.
Spent the weekend at home and worked around the inside of the house - my dream weekend!!!! Started painting doors and cleaning. Easy on the pocketbook for sure.
Finally working on the Halo collar we bought for the dog last year. Husband put out the flags to mark the yard, and we have him wearing the collar to get used to it. We are finally sitting down and listening to the instructions together. We do not have a fenced in yard and a buried electric fence was close to $3,000. vs $900. for the Halo collar. The dog needs to run so here's hoping this works!
@Maureen, We shelled out for a buried electrical fence years ago. A total waste of money and once the dog ran through it and had the little buzz, he would not come back into the yard--not worth the buzz just to get back into the yard. Also, it failed to operate after a heavy snowfall. It never made it to -40 temps before dying, so no idea if the cold would have killed it if nothing else did. All of which is to say, we wasted a lot of money on the fence idea. (Finally we just put up a four foot fence. Then a five foot fence because four was not enough. Now we have a six foot fence...)
@Lindsey,
I had a dog who figured out she could walk up to the fence, wait for the warning beep, and then back up before the shock. She did this over and over until she wore out the battery in the collar. This took her about one day. Then she would wait until I went to drop off my partner at work and she would do her neighborhood run-she knew exactly how long it would be before I got back. We only found out because one day he forgot something, so we went back and saw her hurrying back into the yard. Then my neighbor laughed and told us "she gets out every single day."
@Becca, Years ago we dabbled in the collars that spray citronella when the dogs bark. Our dogs just ignored them and the house and yard smelled lemony fresh until I gave up, but my friend's German shepherd would do a very low and quiet woof to see if the collar was working. If it hadn't been refilled lately, he let loose. Smart dog!
Rotisserie chicken four ways:
1. First night with oven roasted vegetables and gravy.
2. Second night taco salad
3. Pot Pie using chicken, leftover gravy, some of the roasted vegetables and add'l veggies.
4. White Chicken Chili
5. Each of the above meals had leftovers for easy reheat meals.
6. Made broth using carcass and vegetable scraps from the freezer.
The most versatile ready to use protein.
@Sandra, I do the same! Then this week I discovered Costco packages pulled breast meat from the rotisserie chicken in about a 3 lb package. I'm not sure how many chickens it takes to get that much breast meat, but I'm sure it was more than 3, making it cheaper in some ways than buying the whole chicken (no bones to make broth from though). In any case, I made chicken won ton "tacos" with some for Superbowl, then froze the rest in 3 packages. Any of the meals I make with the packages will be enough for at least 2 each, so, I should get about 7 or more meals from the $15 of chicken...and none of the work!
My Frugal Five is slightly cat-centric. Kind of like my phone's camera feed is "slightly" cat-centric these days.
1. We discovered Clark's absolute favorite toy (aside from his soft mice that he carries around, talks to, and presents to us as gifts) is a USB cable, the shinier the better. Luckily (?) we have a couple that broke a while back, so free cat toys! They make the best Danger Noodles.
2. Made a treat puzzle for Clark out of a plastic water bottle--cut a few small holes in different places, large enough for a treat to fall out of, put a couple of treats in, screw the lid on tightly, and the cat needs to roll the bottle around to make the treats fall out. He prefers these to the ones I made out of an egg carton.
3. Movie night pizza was enhanced by an experimental crockpot of caramelized onions; I wanted to replicate Amy's No Cheese Vegan pizza, and it worked! For $3 we got a lot of delicious stuff to put on our pizzas. Even my former onion-hater liked them (for him it's the texture of raw or lightly-cooked onions, apparently). And I dug out a jar of roasted red peppers that I'd bought ages ago, and we enjoyed those as well. My older son suggested using up the roasted broccoli that was in the fridge, and I'm happy I've raised some "use up the leftovers" kids, as opposed to "I hate leftovers" kids, like I was. Ha!
4. Free family activities this weekend included an adventure hike on a bike trail that connects our library and post office, so I was able to return some library books and we checked our mail box; also a board game with home popped popcorn. (We learned how to keep Clark from hopping up on the table while we play; when we went out for our walk we allowed him to have some exploration time in the garage, where he always desperately wants to go. DH put his litterbox and food and water in there, it was all locked up and safe, and when we got back Clark wanted to come back in and while we played he was so worn out from his exciting times he just napped. It's like having toddlers, you need to wear them out so they'll nap!)
5. Giving up dairy and nuts has been good not just for my health (lots of inflammation has gone down, it seems), but the grocery budget. I haven't tracked it exactly, but I'm sticking to simple things like oatmeal for breakfast with soymilk, tofu/beans and veggies, grains for lunch, or leftovers, and it feels like our grocery bill is a little less these days.
@Karen A.,
You got my attention with your crockpot caramelized onions...going to try this!
@Karen A., My cat, Finn, also always wants in the garage! I have put him out there a few times when he is being especially bad. He just instigates problems when he is in a mood. Also, sometimes he refuses to come when I'm looking for him and calling him. Without fail I can open the door to the attic and he can't help himself...he comes running. He wants in the attic horribly, but I can't let him up there with the insulation.
@Marlena, Clark does the same thing with the door to the garage--if we ever wonder where he is, we just open and quickly close the garage door, and he pops out of hiding.
@April, I followed these directions:
https://www.gimmesomeoven.com/slow-cooker-caramelized-onions/#tasty-recipes-64586
But honestly, I would cook them even longer, personally. I started them around 9 and I wanted them ready by 6 and to be really brown and sweet, so I hiked the temp up to HIGH for the first few hours. So I stirred them a bit more than you'd think, and I left the lid ajar for a lot of the cooking. They were pretty handsoff! I do like caramelizing onions on the stovetop, but this used less energy.
@Karen A.,
Any helpful hints on giving up dairy?
I was making my grocery list and realized six of the items were dairy! It seems like they are a staple in my house.
I'm in remission from breast cancer and want to eat healthier.
Dairy needs to go a d other things.
@Marlena,
Hahaha! I was skimming and misread this as he wants to go in the garbage where you put him when he is bad! Hahaha!
@Kathy M, Congrats on your remission! May it be forever. 🙂
This isn't my first rodeo giving up dairy, as I was vegan for years. (Back in the late 90s, early 2000s, when it was a bit harder!) Now I'm falling back on a lot of my old tricks. I find I like unsweetened Silk soymilk the best--rice milk has an unpleasant oily aftertaste to me, and oat milk is too high in carbs. Soymilk has the higher protein content, which means it works well in baked goods in place of cow's milk. If you want to avoid soy, I understand there is hemp milk now, and coconut milk.
Baking is easy, just sub the soymilk for cow's milk. Butter--there are vegan margarines out there, and some are quite good. Or you can substitute applesauce for the fat in a lot of baked goods.
Yogurt: I avoid sugar, and am allergic to nuts, so most of the nondairy yogurts are not for me, so I found SoDelicious Unsweetened Vanilla Coconut Yogurt. I actually like it quite a bit with bananas and other fruits, or in overnight oats. No protein to speak of, so it's just a treat food, but it has calcium and vitamins.
Cheese: The hardest thing for most to give up. I recommend reading "The Cheese Trap" by Neal Barnard, which firmed my resolve. And it has some good recipes. A lot of the vegan cheeses on the market are cashew based, so they're out for me, but if you're inclined, some are pretty good. I do miss a grilled cheese, and some of the Daiya slices I remember being pretty good for that.
I prefer making a "queso" out of nutritional yeast (you can find it online cheaper than at a grocery store, unless you have a good bulk food health food store):
1 c nutritional yeast
1/3 c flour (unbleached white works best--I have had good results with gluten free all purpose as well!)
3/4 tsp (or less) salt
1 tsp garlic powder
Slowly whisk in
1 c cold/room temp water
Put on medium high heat, and whisk constantly.
Let it come to a boil, and let boil about thirty seconds in order to thicken.
Take off heat and stir in 1/4 to 1/2 c margarine, and a teaspoon or two of mustard.
If it sits for a while and gets to thick, heat it up and stir in a little water to thin it out.
I love dipping carrots in this, or tortilla chips, or putting it on cooked broccoli/potatoes.
If you're looking for really good, healthy recipes, I recommend Michael Greger's "How Not To Die" and "How Not to Diet" cookbooks--he doesn't just sub margarine and things like that for the dairy. He is also anti-egg, and anti-meat, so I would read everything with a grain of salt and just focus on the recipes that you think sound good to you!
Also, there's a couple who have a website: Krocks in the Kitchen, and they have some really good nondairy, low-oil recipes that I plan on trying soon.
Oh, I forgot, if you like tofu, it's a great way to get protein, calcium and iron. I splurged and bought a tofu press and it was a gamechanger for my tofu game.
Be prepared to feel hungrier for a while while you adjust to no dairy! Dairy is very calorie dense (especially cheese, and I used to eat a LOT of cheese), and I sometimes find myself just feeling hungry/snacky. I try to snack on fruit and veggies, air popped popcorn, and make sure my meals are filling.
@Becca, when he keeps us up all night running across our bed, screaming the song of his people, bothering the dog (cause he knows we will get up to come help her...she's scared of the cat), etc....if we thought putting him in the garbage would work, we might try it! LOL. We adore this cat and love him to pieces and we love his spunkiness, but when he wants attention...he can be bad!!
I really enjoy the Chiquita antics 🙂
1) Reached out about grocery store rewards that didn't properly credit, and earned $60 (this was tied to a gift card purchase).
2) Sold a couple of items on eBay, earning $110 between the two.
3) I had listed a bunch of hiking/camping stuff my teens had for an ill fated 2020 summer hiking camp they didn't end up going on. They've now been tossing around the idea of a camping trip for spring break. I'll pause selling these, as selling & then needing to buy new (again) would most certainly not be frugal.
4) Stayed on top of our leftovers & fridge items, and didn't have any food waste, which is always a win.
5) Gave away a bunch of stuff on BN again, which is frugal for other people, and keeps our house decluttered.
Good luck on the test!
Can I come up with five frugal things on a Monday? I'm such a creature of habit!
1. I was happy to get a hybrid water heater, and it lowered my heating bill - until it didn't. Turns out the evaporator died and while I was offered a replacement for the heater because it has a 10-year warranty, I had to get the heater back to the store where I purchased it, for it to be honored. I looked at renting a truck, hiring someone to do it, etc., but I finally asked my DD who has a bigger SUV, and she agreed to help me. A plumber disconnected it, I drained it, and the next day she and I wrestled a 150 pound, taller-than-either-of-us water heater to her SUV and drove it to the store. I wish I had a video of that. I used my trash-picked tarp to protect her car. Store employees got the heater out of the car for us and put the new one in. We wrestled the new one into the house when we got home and I called the plumber to connect it. She bought a hand truck to move the heater, but she had wanted a hand truck for her own use anyway. I paid for her lunch. Together hand truck and lunch cost less than renting a truck and much less than hiring someone to do it.
2. The plumber who, like most tradesmen here, is vastly overworked due to the many, many hurricane repairs everyone is still doing, came on Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon to disconnect/connect, but charged me weekday rates.
3. As I often do, I put three different dishes in the oven this weekend to batch cook.
4. I almost didn't file for window replacement with my homeowner's insurance, figuring they'd deny it was hurricane related and say it was just age. I didn't realize until December that my windows were also damaged. I did file, though, and they just sent me the full replacement cost of the quote I got, counting the window filing against the hurricane claim, for which the deductible was already paid.
5. Friday was the birthday of one of my bosses, so we had free lunch at Ted's Montana Grill for the entire office. I definitely went out for lunch that day. I saved my packed lunch for today.
@JD, kudos on your #1 in particular. You and your DD are two tough ladies.
The pictures of Chiquita 'helping' with the sewing are adorable.
My FFT:
1) We froze leftover appetizers at Christmas, and we enjoyed them last night while watching the Super Bowl.
2) Watched the Super Bowl on Parmount+, which is free to us with our Walmart+ membership.
3) Purchased a large box of baby wipes at BJs for upcoming baby shower at work. Used multiple coupons to bring the cost of over 1000 name brand wipes to less than $18.
4) Purchased vitamins at BJs and used multiple coupons for them as well.
5) We wanted a car seat for our first grandbaby, who arrives next week. I found the one we liked on sale and also earned a little from Rakuten. Also scored a baby swing from our Buy Nothing group for the grandbaby.
Cats love sewing bobbins. There's something irresistible about that wobble and rattle.
I was determined to stay out of the grocery store on Super Bowl weekend, when it's crazy overcrowded, evenbthough the fridge was looking bare. Freezer and pantry to the rescue: I mixed up a quart of powdered milk for cooking, made iced tea, a big pan of apple-raisin baked oatmeal, sautéed a lot of bits and bobs of frozen veggies as a side dish to homemade fish cakes with rice, and thawed out a pack of bacon for pancakes and bacon for supper with applesauce on the side. Happy family and no money spent.
Also used a piece of fabric from a yard sale to refresh the cloth cover on the pet steps our girl cat uses. Sewed it on with some of the thread given to me byca long-ago neighbor. Repaired the screen door yet again. Painted the kitchen door with some of the pint of paint bought at the Habitat ReStore for $3.
1. Used a 20% off coupon from Habitat for Humanity ReStore that I received when I donated items. Also received a free lightbulb.
2. Saved the back of unused checks from a closed account to use as scratch paper.
3. After buying some books from the neighbor kids' sale table (in their driveway as it was close to 60 degrees. In Minnesota. In February), we received a pack of goldfish crackers along with a thank you note. So cute.
4. Ordered a sandwich for lunch at a restaurant. It came with red onions, which I dislike raw, so I put them in my reusable container that I bring with me everywhere. Eventually used these onions in a homemade soup.
5. Received a jigsaw puzzle from our niece as a housewarming gift.
@Kristen the photos of Chiquita...my goodness, the highlight of my Monday morning. SO cute!
1. I found two chairs for my breakfast table that I have been wanting for ages. The older Windsor chairs I believe they are called with the arms. I have seen them old new for about $300 a piece. I found two solid wood versions at the Habitat Restore for $7 each. A quick sanding and coat of black paint and they will be lovely.
2. I needed a chair for my son's desk as well and found a solid wood version @ Habitat Restore. Also $7 and it needs a quick sand and paint.
3. I was sick last week so the rest of the fam got take out a few nights. I used an Uber coupon that I had for 20% off of the pizza order and got 20% off an order at McDonald's another evening.
4. We continue to get quotes on the repairs that need to be done and the update of two bathrooms so that we can get the most bang for our buck. We bought a $200 toll so that we can demo everything ourselves which will save us about $7K off of the quotes.
5. Mom is on the mend and a meal plan is in the works for this week to help avoid take out.
@Angie, glad to hear you’re feeling better!
I don't usually participate in these, but I'm turning toward some serious savings goals this year... so let's see 🙂
1) I took the time to sort through some clothes I pulled from my closet that I no longer need or use. I set aside a small bag for Plato's Closet. My efforts got me $19.05!
2) I also sorted through my 4-year-old's clothes. We were generously gifted some VERY nice brand-name hand-me-downs that were way better quality than the stuff we thrifted. So I took the thrifted pieces that were nice and went to Once Upon a Child. I got $67.45 for those (We did stock up on tanks for this summer since he's in a new size AND got a pair of shoes for $27. So let's call it $40 net).
3) I received a sourdough starter from my coworker (she's nearly 15 years younger than I am, but we have very similar lifestyles!). And I have my very first loaf in fermentation stage right now. By this evening, I'll be baking up a loaf! Unless something goes horribly wrong... And this cost...nearly nothing 🙂 Rooting for one homemade loaf a week...
4) I made a really terrible pot of coffee this morning (it was too weak. New coffee bean and didn't realize I needed to adjust for it). I was running a bit behind (due to the aforesaid sourdough), but instead of stopping for coffee, I took a few extra minutes and made another pot. It's REALLY good. And I easily saved $5+.
5) Maybe not a frugal win? But ... frugally minded? I'm part of a local Leadership group (competitive, had to apply, its a year long, etc) and next week we have to wear Business Formal. I wear jeans and leggings to work. I own nothing formal. And since we're in front of law makers, judges, and more this week... I was worried about finding something that would pass that I could afford. Goodwill and the thrift stores had ZERO. I went to TJMaxx and I left in tears feeling awful about myself (lost 25 lb recently and those mirrors made it seem like I had gained. Everything fit terribly). My rules for clothes are: 1) the item must make me feel good to wear it, and 2) I have to be able to rewear it. Amazing how many things I put back because it doesn't hit those two seemingly simple rules... I ended up with a 50-70% off clearance rack at Dillard's. And found a moderately formal suit (jacket, pants) and a shirt. Spent more than I wanted (which was $0), but got something I'll keep for many years that hit both criteria.
@reese, your number 5 is definitely a win! Sometimes the things we need just can't be found at a thrift / consignment / discount store. The wins are that you DID try those places first, and when you couldn't find what you needed, still found a clearance option. It sounds like you bought quality pieces that will be wearable for years. Great job!!
@reese, Never believe those mirrors in the store. I am of the firm belief that the lighting and angles of the mirrors are designed to make us feel absolutely awful about ourselves. Congrats on your hard work + weight loss!
Hello there...there's nothing like school stuff and cats to silly up your days and schedule.
Good luck on your exam!
Our toy destroyer beast of a cat Gremlin loves bobbins...at least they're less painful to step on at five in the morning than Legos.
Five frugal things:
1. Had a coupon for Petco and while there (after visiting the ferrets of course) I discovered a few sale items for aforementioned spoiled cat and saved 15 bucks.
2. Did a bunch of meal prep for next week and used up a bunch of stuff lurking in the fridge and freezer...also made bread, chai tea concentrate for homemade fraps, and energy bites... that'll help keep me out of the coffee shops.
3. I save the wax from candles (there always seems to be a bit that's left behind) and when I have enough scraps with a similar sent or ones that work together I melt them down and create new ones. Keeps old jars out of the land fill and new wicks are pretty cheap so I guess it's a bit of a frugal win.
4. Did our taxes instead of paying a ridiculous amount to have HNR Block do it...pay them $600.00 to plug in numbers on a software program that I can buy for $50? I don't think so.
5. Husband and I did a bunch of random repairs and maintenance stuff around the house this weekend so money saved there to.
@April, re: things you don't want to step on at 5 am: My Betty (who is strictly an indoor cat) caught the one and only mouse of hers I know about, and left it in the middle of the living room rug for me to find. Which I did. At 5 am. With bare feet. They probably heard my scream in Manhattan.
@A. Marie,
Ok..it was wrong of me but I laughed.
Ick.
And I would've screamed to.
Again,
Ick....cats. Gotta love em.
@A. Marie, I've had that experience too - including bare feet. Cat ate half of it, left the other half. Used to cat sit for a farmer - stepped on something (I did have on shoes) as I went up the steps. When I turned on the light, it was a rat. Which was almost as big as most of the farm cats. Bagged it up and learned farm cats were not to be messed with lol.
Praying your exam goes well!
Nothing major / new this week.... 1) making coffee at home 2) making meals at home
3) purchased minimal snacks for the super bowl, made inexpensive dinner, kept to normal grocery spending. 4) trimming all our fur babies nails at home (our pets do NOT enjoy this - every time my husband and I perform this task, I have to remind myself that we are saving around $85 each time which over the course of a year {3 dogs, 2 cats x 2 times per month} would add up to around $2200!!) Okay - I'm giving myself an extra pat on the back for nail trims! 5) buying specialty food items to take to my youngest when we visit. We have a markdown store where I can often find her dairy free items for a fraction of what she would have to pay in her pricey college town.
@Cheryl 90, I have never had a dog who liked having his nails done. We tried everything, treats, smearing peanut butter on the husband's forehead so the dog would be distracted by licking it off while the nails were trimmed...you name it, we tried it. Then we discovered a friend has a talent for stress-free nails trimming. When we need the task done, she comes and does it and we feed her a dinner. Saves money and aggravation.
@Cheryl 90, I recently trimmed Clark's front claws for the first time. To do so, I had to wrap his bottom half up in a towel and hold him on my lap while one of my sons fed him a squeezable cat treat (think fish-flavored Go-gurt, for cats--Clark goes absolutely bonkers for them, and I reserve them for brushing and nail trimming). I was impressed that we were able to get it done! We never took our cats to the vets specifically for nail trimming, but Clark was making me think I might have to. Being in the shelter, he never got regular trims and isn't used to it, so I knew it would take Special Measures.
So yes, pat yourself on the back--getting our furry kids to do something we need to do and they don't like can be hard!
The coonhound is the first dog I've ever had who can't be overpowered by three people to clip nails. She absolutely loses it and she's a big and strong dog. (Same when I try to bathe her. I even tried to wash her in our outdoor shower, but nothing doing.) We just started her on Prozac because she's always so nervous. Who knows, maybe I can quit taking her to the vet for a bath and trim.
@Lindsey, I have never had a problem doing my dogs nail. They get treats as we do it and they are happy. I do my sister's dog's nail when they visit, no problem. I help a friend with her dogs because she requires 2 people. Well I was at my cousin's and she asked if I could help her. Her dog is 18 pounds. He went crazy as soon as she got the nail clippers. He was like the videos on YouTube. He tried to bite me and her. I said nope. Take him to the vet.
@Rose, I am a professional groomer of 28 years. My daughter’s dog River is a German Shorthaired pointer. I have never, and I mean never, seen the drama, struggle, out-and-out FIGHTING for a nail trim as with this dog. He’s not a biter, thank goodness; but my son in law ( a big guy!) could not hold him for me to safely do the nails. I called it off for fear he would have a stroke or heart attack (the dog, not my son in law haha). He now goes to the vet for sedation nail trims. You have to know when to admit defeat, for everyone’s safety. My arms were bloody from scratches after our little session.
@SandyH, Oh, I always muzzle the fighters too. Then one person on top, one to hold a leg or paw and the third to clip. Nope, Betsy turns into crazytown when I've tried, with three people. So she's at the vet. I can dream that the Prozac will help. Last time my son picked her up, they said, "Wow, she's lively!"
@Rose, ha! I have a cat that takes three people to hold him down to cut his nails! He's a beast when it comes to his nails.
It's been a quiet week at home, so that alone is frugal. I got out once (still nursing my back that I pulled out badly) and ran by the grocery and library.
I sewed a couple toys for my dog with the bag of squeakers I have and some potholders I was going to throw away. I bought a bag of squeakers a long time ago and sew her up some...she destroys all toys quickly so I hate paying $5-$10 for them, but the old potholders actually held up for almost an hour.
I crocheted a baby blanket for a neighbor that has a new grandbaby with yarn from my yarn stash.
I cleaned out the fridge completely and used up all the leftover and even made ranch dressing with some sour cream and buttermilk that was going to go bad soon.
I pulled a turkey carcass out of the deep freeze and made broth for this week.
I found the boutique style dog biscuits with blueberries and stuff in them...usually like $9 on clearance for $1.79 at Food Lion and bought enough treats to keep my little dog happy for a while.
We ate at home all week and all the usual stuff.
@Marlena, You got a lot done with a sore back!
I hope y'all have a great Monday and good luck, FG! I hear what you mean about good thing the pet is cute, cuz we say that about the pooch all the time. C. was being extra adorable, wasn't she?
I figured out a way to unpack the basement using less hired labor. I'm pleased to pay the kid when I need him and glad to have him when I do, though.
Continued to read library books and books I already own. ProTip: if you're looking for new books, the Worthington, OH public library sometimes offers personalized recommendations on FB. You tell them 3 books you like, they'll make some recommendations.
Signed up for several free demonstrations at Williams Sonoma, just cuz. I don't expect to learn much but it'll be fun.
Continued to cook (yay!) depending on what needs to be used up. Yesterday was Asparagus and Chix stirfry, to use up the asparagus that wasn't in good enough shape to roast, the chix I bought practically free, and onions.
While my library doesn't do free copying, the neighboring one does. There's 100% reciprocity so that's where I'm going to do some necessary double-sided preferably-color copying.
Signed up for another Fix-It Clinic at the library, this time as a coach. I can't do much but if anyone needs knits fixed, I got you covered!
I went to the local knit shop for a stitch and bitch. Unfortunately I packed everything but the pattern but at least I broke the ice. The owner also told me about a 3D printer from MicroCenter that, if you line things up right, is only $100. We'd decided not to get a printer because our use-case didn't justify several hundred dollars. One hundred we can do.
My contractor/decorator proposed a DR lighting solution that will cost very little if it works. (To the detriment of his own pocket, I might add.)
Basically a repeat from Non-Consumer blog but the frugals were not many this week so nothing new to add:
1. A friend gifted me five jars of her homemade salsa, made in September with ingredients from her garden.
2. Husband forlornly asked if we had any con queso sauce in the house. It would have been a miracle, since I have never bought it…But he seldom asks for any special foods, nor does he usually watch football, and he never complains when I make so much soup that we have it for dinner four nights running, so I used a jar of the gifted chili and cheese that we had and chips from a mystery shop. He was thrilled and I left him to it while I read in another room.
3. Sold a book on eBay that I listed with no hope of selling. It was gone in two days! Once again proving that I have no idea what people will or will not buy.
4. Picked up two books from the library.
5. Husband did four gas mystery shops and filled the tank for free.
Someone asked if Houndini (thanks for A. Marie for that most apt of names for Pound Hound #1) is making friends with Clobber Paw (Pound Hound #2, adopted last week). Slowly, although I am sure the relationship was cemented when the husband went to the bathroom in the middle of the night and caught the two of them sharing an entire loaf of the challah I make every Friday morning. Clobber Paw had snagged the bagged loaf down off the top of the bucket of flour, which was on top and all the way to the back of the kitchen counter. It has been 5 years since we last had a giant breed and I had forgotten how far they can reach when they rear up on their hind legs. He is only 8 months and when he stands on his back paws he is taller than the 5’10” husband. We are now back to putting edibles on top of the fridge as we go to bed. At least he shared with Houndini. Giants are prone to bloat if they eat too much or too fast and an entire loaf could have caused real problems, culminating in death or surgery, so we were lucky. Our fault, not the dog’s for doing what puppies do.
@Lindsey, P.S. I am not a big fan of cats, too allergic to them. But I love your sewing helper! I one time had a foster kid tell me he misbehaved in school on a test he thought he would fail because he knew I liked "bad people" better than "stupid people." I was horrified to realize he was pretty much correct and with that one sentence he changed how I behaved and talked, probably doing me more good than we ever did him. But it remains true that I find mischievous children and animals particularly winning.
Well, you would definitely enjoy Chiquita then. She is very mischievous!
@Lindsey, bless you, bless you, bless you for adopting dogs that could eat your budget into bankruptcy. I'm sure they don't go quickly from the pound. Our three feline volunteers run us close to $200 a month for food and litter. This doesn't include vet visits. But I would have 20 cats if I could. Our HOA only allows two pets per household, but we couldn't turn down no. 3 because our son brought him.
I tell myself if anyone in authority ever drops by, I will quickly grab one cat and put a lampshade on his head and hope he sits still for the duration of the visit.
Great photos of Chiquita!
Nothing interesting to report in the frugal department except I just learned that Chewy is part of TopCashBack and I have WASTED many opportunities with my auto ship to tap into this. Now I have to figure out how to connect those two places.
-I withdrew myself from a charity that was no longer doing much with my money (as far as I could see), saving about $6 per month
-my teen got a job, hopefully this will mean fewer requests to mom and dad for $$$
-i got some good library books
-i used my "bonus points" at the grocery store so today my whole cart was free. Always fun to do that.
-put my Hello Fresh subscription on pause because I was tired of it
Chiquita just never disappoints. She’s cuter than ever in today's appearances.
It’s been a while now since we had our various and much-loved kitties and pup. We miss having them but there’s a fair amount of travel in our lives now so we dote on our married sons' beasties. There’s nothing like the love you receive from your pets.
* Received a coupon for a free pizza that I intend using soon
* Thrift store was having a super sale, 2$ by item of woman clothing. I got 9 tops and my DD also got a couple items, for a grand total of 24$. I even used a 5$ off 25$ on top of it.
* Still reading books from free piles and from the public library
* Movie theater is having a Tuesday special all month, 10$ for a ticket and a popcorn. I went last week and will go again this week, and next week (and the one after?). I know movie theater popcorn is waaaaaaay overpriced but, man, I love it!
* Still being mindful about the amount of groceries I'm buying. Yet, the freezer and pantry are still full (yeah, I know, 1s world problem). So I have to be even MORE mindful and cut down even more in order to use what I have (and save money in the process)
Our rent in this senior's complex includes what they consider one meal a day that we order from the dining room. For a set price, from Sunday's brunch menu, I ordered: scrambled egg casserole, bacon, ham, Waldorf salad, fresh pineapple, and a pastry. I got three meals out of that and I still have some bacon and pineapple.
@Linda Sand, Great planning on your "brunch" food! It is smart to know how much you will eat, and use available food creatively. Fresh pineapple, (especially some someone else cut up), and bacon, (someone else fried and cleaned the pan after), would be on my list as well.
Seeing your mends reminds me that I have a few items to fix. I discovered another one this morning in a pair of jeans.
I’m curious: are you still making your own bread during nursing school?
And have you read the book “Outlive” by Peter Attia?
I have not read that one! I'll go look it up.
I make bread here and there, but I'm also definitely buying it!
Your cat is the cutest!
My 5 Frugal Wins
1) Got rewards from using Fetch and Ibotta.
2) Borrowed extra books through the library my girls and I will love. How to Draw and children’s books for my girls and a self help book for me. My goal this year is to read 1 self help book per month. So far, so good!
3) Celebrated Jesus’s belated birthday with a homemade cake, by reading books and watching ‘The Star,’ a DVD we already owned. Also reused birthday decor.
4) Celebrated Lunar New Year with food we already had or got at the grocery store. Made fried rice and crackers. Had egg rolls, dumplings and candy. Read books we already owned about the holiday and called family to wish them a Happy Lunar New Year.
5) Continue to eat at home and slowly going through our pantry.
Your mending of Zoe's clothes reminds me of one of my favorite stories between my two boys and my mother. We lived next door to them while the boys were growing up, so obviously my parents were big parts of the boys' lives. They got to the point that they just took things to her that they wanted her to fix. (My dad, too. I wish I had $1 for every bicycle tire he aired back up and/or patched for them.) She told me that one of them brought her a threadbare pair of jeans for her to work her magic on. Seeing that there was really nothing left there, she begged him to let her buy him a new pair of jeans. "No! Those are my favorite pair." So she did the best she could to let him get a few more miles out of them. (Some of his favorite patch jobs were when she would take a piece of bandana print material and sew that to the inside of the jeans where there was a hole. He thought that was so cool.) My older son named his first son after my dad and his second son's middle name is my mother's maiden name. I can only hope to be so special to my grandkids.
@Bonnie, It's almost 2 months since you posted your comment, so I don't know if you'll see this, but I thoroughly enjoyed reading about your parents and children. We weren't able to live close to my parents for most of our sons' growing up years and I missed that for them. However, they were wonderful far-away grandparents.
Great job with the repairs. I love how mending (as well as thrifting) is actually "in style" now. I saw a video on "Visible Mending" where the person took some embroidery thread and made a flower over a hole and it was fabulous and something I plan to try.
Good luck with that test!
@Jen in Santa Cruz, an artist I like used to do that in the 20s and 30s on her black wool stockings--she'd mend them with bright yarn.
Maybe I'll do that with my cashmere sweater. It's ivory so bright colors would be obvious.
@Jen in Santa Cruz, I'm reminded of the 1970s "Illustrated Hassle-Free Make Your Own Clothes Book," by Sharon Rosenberg and Joan Wiener--which, among other things, was a forerunner of the current "visible mending" trend. (Once again, I'm showing my age. But I've become gently amused by the general concept that no new trend is really new.)
Please, please, please keep Chiquita away from your sewing thread! As a veterinary technician, I can't tell you how many emergency surgeries I've assisted on to remove linear foreign bodies from cat intestines. If a string or thread starts going down the esophagus in a cat, they have a hard time getting it back up due to the barbs on their tongues pointing inward. So they just keep ingesting more and more of the string. Many times these guys present in severe GI distress with thread wrapped around the base of their tongues and the other end coming out of their rears! You can imagine that the thread then SAWS its way through the intestines due to peristalsis. It's ugly. Chiquita is too darn cute to deal with something so darn ugly. (Sorry to be a Debbie Downer, but it's such a common cat issue!)
To keep this on a frugal note, an exploratory laparotomy is EXPENSIVE! Prevention is much more frugal. 🙂
@Linda, so very true. My oldest daughter’s big gray cat, Sebastian, was acting strangely and stopped eating. They had him x-rayed, and turns out, he had a threaded needle in his throat! He is fine now, but kitties think EVERYTHING is a toy to play with.
I posted on non consumer so lets see what else I can up with.
1. We sold my daughter's car that we got her for high school and college. She got a newer car for herself. I ran to DMV this morning so we could cancel the insurance.
2. I am making pizza dough in the bread machine. Making pizza with sauce I had frozen for dinner.
3. Walked three laps(about 1&1/2 miles) at a local park. We don't have side walks.
4. Made the dog food for the week. She was happy to prewash the pot for me.
5. Have the heat low since I am the only one home. Have a sweater and blanket on.
It feels like I do the same thing every week, let’s see what I can come up with
1. Meal planned and stuck to the shopping list
2. Combined some errands to save time and gas
3. I save good condition gift bags and this week had an occasion to regift 2 of them
4. Made elderberry syrup at home.
5. This one the credit goes to my husband. He fixed the water boiler issue instead of paying someone to do it.
This week I:
1. Mended a couple pieces of clothing
2. Organized the freezer and noted what I have in there (hopefully to use what I have before buying it fresh!)
3. Made baked oatmeal and used up older blueberries and a very ripe banana. These recipes also include coconut sugar that my guy thought we should have when he was on a no refined sugar kick which then got ignored. I like the baked oatmeal with it better than with maple syrup and since I already have the sugar...
4. Got my usual bunch of library books to read. I like going to the library web site and going to their "New and On Order" section and putting books on hold that aren't even in yet. It's a great way to get the popular titles without waiting a year! I get a Bookbub email regularly that usually has at least 1 free book available to download.
5. I went grocery shopping Saturday, and the deli was busy so she took my order and told me to come back...well, out of sight, out of mind. I realized it when I got home I hadn't gotten the meat - grrr. Had to go back, and after getting the meat, went to customer service and asked them to combine my 2 receipts so I could use my $15 off $150 coupon. I also returned 2 cans of soup I had just purchased because they "weren't the right kind"' and rather than them sitting on the shelf for a year, I returned them since I was there anyway. I'm not sure the $15 made up for the gas and time but it made me happy to get to use the coupon.
Mended a pair of pajama pants, a shirt for my son, some towels, and our duvet cover.
Trimmed my own bangs and ends instead of going to the salon.
Made banana bread with frozen brown bananas in the freezer. Made blueberry muffins with frozen blueberries from the freezer.
Went to the further away but cheaper grocery store and got a ton of clearance produce and some marked down pork chops for the freezer.
Made sourdough discard crackers.
1. Last December, I had my nice Christmas outfit all ready for church, but ended up getting sick. Couldn't go. But Valentine's also involves a lot of red! So this Sunday, right before Valentine's Day, I wore the dressy "Christmas" outfit I'd cobbled together from thrift store finds: over my years-old chiffon Easter dress (also thrifted), I wore a fancy red Coldwater Creek chiffon jacket. It had a lot of hand-beading over some 3-D flowers and looked like it could go with evening attire as well as your "Sunday best." I'd bought this jacket last year at Salvation Army and it had its original store tag on it from another merchant; it said the cost was $120. I paid only $7.99! Thrift stores rock!! Thrift stores rock!! The Easter dress had some red highlights in its flower print but was otherwise a neutral color so I could get away wearing it a season other than spring. Anyway, I got lots of compliments, esp. from the ritzy ladies in the congregation. Felt like a million bucks....and I estimate I had less than $25 invested in the entire outfit. Since it is a classic style, I will no doubt wear it again.
2. Was given free food, which I happily accepted, from coworkers, including candy and a large container of almonds.
3. Cleaned out another kitchen cabinet (a few months ago) and found my former roommate had left behind a bag of Starbucks' Columbian coffee. Ran out of my regular coffee this week....so I'm now drinking free Starbucks, brewed at home! She'd also left some wine, which found its way to a Super Bowl party. (Way to go, Chiefs!)
5. Used another 20% off coupon for Goodwill. This week's cache included a clock radio for $2.99 (put it by a window when away; passers-by and burglars will think someone's home) and four large commuter cups/water bottles for $1.99, less the 20% discount. Also got some boxed blank cards and envelopes very cheap.
6. Sadly, I need some sympathy cards again. Looked for those at Goodwill. They had some boxes for $3.99 but when I counted the cards and envelopes, most were not in there so the price was not reasonable. The other thrift store that sells greeting cards didn't have any bereavement cards. Went to a drugstore where all cards are 40% discounted; bought a $5.99 package of 6 sympathy cards for $3.59.Used my Discover Card which is giving an extra 5% cash back bonus for everything bought at drug stores this quarter. (Of course, I pay the entire card off every month in order not to get rooked by a higher monthly percentage rate...don't want to be penny-wise and pound-foolish!) So my final price was $3.41 (not including sales tax). This brings the cost of each card down to about 57 or 58 cents instead of being about a dollar per card. (Let's just hope I don't have to use any more of these cards!)
@Fru-gal Lisa, I have a super pretty bright red dress with a heart cutout on the back. It seems a little ironic considering I don't have a date for Valentine's Day (and god I do not want one).
1. My parents are here to help with our toddler when I go into labor with baby #2. They went to the grocery store for a big shop and refused to take my credit card, which is very kind of them.
2. I had a free baked good show up in my Panera account. We happened to be running an errand on that side of town and picked it up on the way home.
3. I received a book with the cover partially ripped off from Thriftbooks. I emailed them to ask for a refund or replacement, and within 3 minutes received an email about getting the price refunded. They have excellent customer service, although I wish I didn’t have to use their customer service so often. I feel like every third order I make with them something arrives in poor condition or damaged.
4. I finally reattached a button on my peacoat. I’m glad a friend heard the button when it fell off or I would have been out of luck!
5. I found a dollar bill while going through the self-checkout line. I almost missed it as I was only looking in the change return.
@Lindsay B, I love Thriftbooks and use it a great deal as my library has become almost worthless (long story). Here's a funny Thriftbook story. I love Wouk's "Winds of War" and "War and Remembrance." Loved the mini series from the 80s. I decided to purchase those books a few months ago and reread.
When I got near the end of "War and Remembrance", I realized the last 20% or so of the book was missing. Not torn out, simply never bound in. I'm completely familiar with the story so I knew it. I believe it was printed in the '70s, so this particular book, and who knows how many other copies, were defective, and had been floating around from household to household for 40 years. It was kind of funny but I felt badly for the many people who did not know how the story ended.
I threw it away as I certainly couldn't pass it on.
@Anne, Same with my copy of Anna Karenina. I was about 13-14, the last pages were missing, so I had no idea (SPOILER ALERT) she threw herself in front of a train.
COVID-edition...
1. Last week, both my husband and I came down with COVID, so we stayed home in quarantine for the rest of the week. Used up the remaining tests we had gotten for free to test ourselves and the kids.
2. Got more free tests from our parents who will probably won't ever use them, so we are stocked up again for the future.
3. Some friends who happened to find out we were sick insisted on sending us dinner one night through Door Dash, and included some extra treats for us and the kids.
4. We missed out on our church's Chinese New Year potluck, but some friends dropped off some leftovers from the dinner as well as the lefttover drinks we had bought for dinner.
5. Spent time reading library books, line-dried laundry, cleaned the house while we were home in quarantine and starting to feel better. No additional money spent!
Don't let kitty eat the thread...that was the beginning of the end of my last kitty. It was an expensive and terrible lesson. And your kitty look extra curious about thread.
*I sold a bunch of stuff on Ebay which makes my pricey January a little less painful. I used envelopes and packaging I already had been saving. And the post office is on my way to work.
*I've been buying food within my tiny budget, but just like last time, I'm growing weary of the fridge being noticeably empty-er, so I don't know...might have to strike a better balance there. I am cooking and the meals are pretty good!
*Saved myself a bunch of gas by being a homebody last week, ha ha
*Used Capitol One points to buy three new books on Amazon with no out of pocket cost.
*got a free sandwich with Dominoes rewards!
1. Found four sealed, in-date Covid test kits at the thrift store. Put them with our stash of free ones. This was a few months ago. Had the occasion to use one yesterday, to find out my husband has Covid. Boo!
2. Made a pot of potato soup for the Covid patient, using ingredients I had on hand. This will feed the two of us and my mom at least two meals.
3. My grandkids love ice cream cake. I usually order one from Baskin-Robbins for special occasions (Thanksgiving). But for our Super Bowl party, I made one from scratch. It was positively delicious, and easy, too. It also served twice as many as the store-bought ones, which are pretty small.
4. Baked bread.
5. Shopped at Aldi.
First time participating but excited to do so.
1) got a free unopened container of Metamucil that was left on the counter at work for the taking
2) another day got a free box of Girl Scout tagalong cookies which are DD1’s favorite left on the same counter for the taking; gotta love co-workers who set things out to find new homes; I reciprocate so it balances out
3) a work friend gave me an unopened container of Quaker Oats she didn’t want
4) when I took my dog in for her teeth cleaning the vet said after this cleaning she no longer needed to have her teeth cleaned due to her age (16+ now) and that she would let the pet insurance company know to take it off my plan since it was renewing on the 22nd; I gave it a week and called the insurance company to be sure my plan was changed which it had not been so I’m glad I followed up - $9 a month savings
5) went to the movies with a friend to a theater chain I don’t usually go to and remembered that I had a free movie coupon that had been sitting in my wallet for years; saved the ticket cost and freed up a little space in my wallet
Love recounting my frugal wins!
Good look on your test Kristen!
@BonG, that's a great first list! Kudos to you!
@BonG, welcome and I agree with MB in MN-- great list!
Kristen, I’m a honey convert! Now I sub it for jelly on my peanut butter sandwiches. Yum!
Cute is all well and good, but thread is a cat's worst nightmare!!! Our kitten got a spool many years ago and needed emergency surgery to repair 18 slices to her insides from the thread cutting her as her digestive tract continued to try to swallow what was firmly wrapped around the base of her tongue to the tune of $5k OUCH!!!! Poor kitty! 🙁
NEVER let a cat get hold of thread!
Chiquita is such a cutie. Typical cat - if it's not bolted down, it's fair game.
Good luck on your exam!
FFT:
1 - I had a large number of points from a national chain that has grocery, liquor, drug, and specialty stores, that was running a promotion. I redeemed 200K points for $200 worth of groceries and got 30K back in points. The pantry has been stocked up.
2- I sold a high value item on ebay ($900 before ebay fees - which are ridiculously high but what can you do?).
3 - I bought several Visa pre-paid cards during a promotion where each one received a bonus $15 Walmart gift card. I bought these Visa cards with a credit card that earns 5 points per $1.
4 - I signed up for an offer that Costco was running and received a $25 coupon code, which I used to buy electric toothbrush heads that were also on sale.
5 - I can't think of anything else; however, I did not buy a private jet.
@Tammy,
Your #1 & #2 are very impressive! WOW!
@Tammy, that's amazing. You had a great week!!
What was your eBay high value item?
I love how your you worked that Visa card purchase in multiple ways!
thanks for the chiquita pix. she is so adoreable.
Good for you doing the printing at school. Use whatever benefits go along with that tuition payment.
I stopped in the grocery store to pick up some rolls for burgers. I found buffalo chicken tenders for $7--The packages were different sizes. I did get a larger size ($11+), which had 12 tenders in it. I cooked 6 yesterday and we can have 6 tomorrow or Wed.
Today I went to the Sr. Center for a writing program. The local grocery store donates bakery products with end of sale date. I was able to pick up a loaf of bread.
Because we are supposed to have some kind of weather here in the northeast (on the southeastern coast) tomorrow and the state or at least our area is closed for tomorrow, the Sr. Center was getting rid of any lunch items they had. Each of us was given a lunch box--sandwich, vegetable, fruit, chips, drink.
I got two free eggs so far from the chickens that I am in charge of this week. The dogs are only giving entertainment.
Last monday at club,we asked the ladies to wear red for women's heart disease and they did. I was able to get into my red pants and red jacket again (both had been purchased many years ago at a Resale shop. I need to keep this up.
Tigers are always "helping". Working all the time is pretty frugal because no time to spend money though I did balance my checkbook during hurry-up-and-wait-time during my night shift this weekend. Despite the night shift happening before in the past, the younger cat got confused when I was sleeping during the day. Not that I heard it but better half said she was crying.
Finished off Super Bowl leftovers for dinner tonight. Tomorrow night's dinner will be leftovers from Saturday night. We thought a survey pin was buried or removed (which is illegal) but manual pacing by better half managed to find it (more buried than it was). Saved the cost of having it re-surveyed.
1. I used up some frozen homemade mole for my lunches this week. I paired it with rice, tofu, and black beans that I already had.
2. I started personal training at my employer's gym. I got 4 free sessions by submitting a picture of myself during heart health month.
3. We had some remodeling work done in our basement. My husband did some of the work and I did some of the painting, so as to reduce costs. We mostly used paint we had also.
4. I review our Subscribe and Saves with Amazon monthy. I cancelled two orders this month we did not need yet.
5. I picked up free COVID tests from our library since quite a few people have it right now.
Do you ever freeze your cilantro? I haven't but have always heard it's possible.
Frugals-
1. Free Chick-fil-A breakfast on Tuesdays = yum!
2. I won a $10 Starbucks card at an event so I used half of that as a treat. And I save the Starbucks cup to reuse the next day with my homemade coffee. Feels like a treat too haha.
3. Ordered Amazon giftcards for doing health insurance rewards like updating contact info, etc. I spent all the giftcards on groceries. And I ordered the markdowns of course. Like.....
4. Amazon Fresh had their full size frozen pizzas marked down to $1 and buy 1 get 1. So I bought 8 pizzas for $4.
5. I have been cooking slightly smaller portions so we have less leftover that can potentially go bad. But I have been cooking a lot of meals from Julia Pacheco on YouTube. She makes healthy food for cheap!
1. We ate all our meals at home. My oldest made a whole family dinner when I was too sick to cook.
2. I checked the fridge and pantry when making the shopping list.
Ummm... we just didn't spend money.
Chiquita and the bobbin is a HOOT! You captured the cattitude perfectly - LOL! ❤️
Those pictures make me giggle too!
I'm reading this post very belatedly and noticed that Zoe works at Target! I LOVE Target and especially love looking for clearance deals! My two best deals after Christmas 2024 were a big stack of Little Golden Books for 60 cents that I donated to an amazing charity and a canvas Christmas tote bag perfect for Book Clubs that was $1 so I bought one for all my book club members! A funny Target story - I had a business trip to Minneapolis for our annual meeting and totally forgot to put on mascara & eyeliner for my super early flight & forgot to pack it. So my hotel shuttle driver dropped me off at a Target near my hotel & he told me that a Super Target was down the road. So I walked in & this Target was a big as my Super Target in Atlanta. So I inquired and yes, this was a regular Target and their Super Target down the road had a bakery. I also learned that there is an even bigger Target store downtown next to the Target HQ.