Five Frugal Things | pie plate: obtained
1. I got a free pie plate
I'd mentioned I was going to stop by Goodwill to look for a pie plate, and then it occurred to me that someone on my Buy Nothing group probably had an extra pie plate sitting around.
I mean, I used to own three of them and I hardly ever made pies. I don't even know quite how I got three of them.
So, I put out a post and sure enough, someone who lives near me had an extra. Yay!
2. I decrystallized my honey
I made the error of buying a container of honey from Sam's Club. That is too much honey for the two of us!
Of course, it crystallized.
Usually, I submerge my small honey bottles like this:
But obviously, that wouldn't work for such a large bottle.
I was trying to figure out what to do and then it occurred to me to use an 8x8 pan. I just screwed in a plastic top from a food package to keep it from leaking (I don't happy to have any plastic wrap here.)
This worked very nicely and now the honey is once again squeezable.
I'm sure I'll have to repeat this before we finish the bottle, but that's ok.
At least I have learned my lesson: no more Sam's Club honey for us!
3. I used up some wrinkly apples
I had a few apples in my produce drawer that had been there for a bit too long. Whoops.
I cut them up, sauteed them with butter and cinnamon, and put them on top of a bowl of oatmeal (which had protein powder mixed in because I am still trying to use up my huge bag!)
Here's how I make my one-serving oatmeal.
4. I helped Zoe do her taxes for free
Her taxes are so simple, she can use the free version of TurboTax. Sweet.
It takes only about 30 minutes and I really am just there in case of questions on her end.
I also filed my personal return, but since mine has complications due to my blog, my TurboTax is decidedly not free. But it IS cheaper than paying my CPA to do my personal return.
(I pay my CPA to do my business taxes because WHOA that is way way way too complicated for me at this point!)
5. I did the self-service emissions testing
Our state requires emissions testing for our vehicles every two years, and my van was due.
It costs $14 if you go through the regular line versus $10 if you do the self-service. You know what I did. 😉
It's super duper easy and the nice thing is, the self-service is open 24 hours a day and there's usually no line. So you can save time and money.
*After a long road trip, I stopped at Sam's club to fill up with gas and buy eggs before going the last hour home. Save over forty cents per gallon and one dollar per dozen.
*On the trip, we went to an art museum which had free admission.
*The hotel had a free breakfast- kids love the waffles!
*Husband fixed one broken laptop for one kid and has figured out how to fix another one for another kid. Having in-house tech support is the best.
*Frugal maybe- the cruise control stopped working on the road trip. And then, during my drive to work, the cruise control in another car died. However, the second one should be easily fixed by my live-in car repair guy (aka the husband) with a ten dollar part. The cars are conspiring against us lately- they both needed oil changes at the same time, and the air pressure sensors in both have failed. However, they still work, so I can still get around. My poor husband will be spending his spring break under the hoods!
So glad that Michigan doesn't have the emissions testing, not to mention lots of vehicles would most likely fail.
Frugal things---
● earned extra $0.07 ($0.17/gallon) on fuel yesterday (St. Patrick day) & saved $0.10/gallon) $2.89
● earned 11% off on purchases at Menards & got various wood pieces on Clearance
● purchased 2 regular kitchen cabinets with large drawers ($80 each) & $200 for floor to ceiling kitchen cabinet with slider shelves at Habitat RE Store. Now kitchen expansion almost complete.
● Used Meijer reward points for FREE orange slushie when 70+*
● Used Meijer reward points to save $6 off total for groceries
● Ace saved $15 off $75 & ordered 2 more metal garden trellis (to extend height of fence more)
● got soda on sale & extra/bonus cash back app reward points for soda
Frugal fail---
● been having problems paying at pump, so decided to pay inside after getting fuel. Didn't save $0.10/gallon, but did still earn rewards.
● had 30 receipts last month that did not scan into cash back rewards apps. Making effort to scan receipts every night if needed.
@Regina, The emissions testing is difficult with an older vehicle. We have 2 that we've struggled to get to pass. The counties west of us (in the same state) don't have to pass emissions because they have no facility. We are only about maybe 2 miles short of not having to do emissions.
I do sometimes look at vehicles I see on the road and wonder, "How does that one pass the emissions test?" But also I think they are mostly in the "historic vehicle" category which means that around here, you are exempt from emissions testing.
@Kristen, I am not as nice as you since I wonder how so many of the folks i see reading their cellphones and other interesting activities HOW DID THEY PASS A DRIVERS TEST ?????????
@Regina, I find receipt scanning relaxing! I used to do them for my friend in MS as she had littles and was too tired. I also scanned her pampers rewards.
Good one for the pie plate!
I am still under the weather and do not feel like tax filing. We have time still.
Several frugals this week, such as
- two more too good to go bags. One from an artisan baker, with buns bread and baguette (and some sweet rolls). Worth looking out for.
- sold a nearly new item I listed at least half a year ago and was ready to take to the thrift shop
- got a voucher from a shoe shop where we bought shoes last year. We do not need new shoes, and the voucher expires end of April. It occurred to me that I could also redeem the voucher for shoe care products
- tried out a recipe to make fruity syrup from apple peel. I also added quince - it smells lovely. I need the odd kitchen experiment
- drank sage tea for my sore throat. I have herbs in a planter by the back door. And the sun is shining through the windows and warming my sore head.
Hope to recover soon, the weather outside is so inviting
Aww, I hope you feel better soon!
1. I had two doctor's appointments recently and both were free! Thanks public healthcare! I do have to pay for a prescription but it's not very expensive.
2. I wanted to watch Amelie after my Paris trip but it doesn't seem to be available on streaming. The library had a copy on dvd so I borrowed that.
3...And I returned it on time so I didn't get a late fee.
4. I baked some desserts.
5. I managed to have broken my soda habit so am saving money on beverages!
Congrats on skipping the sodas! That's a big accomplishment not just for your wallet but for your body.
@Kristen, Thank you! My dentist said it would be good for my teeth, but it's also good for general health, of course. I've also cut down on alcohol - I haven't gone teetotal but am drinking much less.
@Sophie in Denmark,
Great to hear about the sodas. Adds nothing helpful to your body and can be destructive to health in so many ways. Not easy; a great accomplishment.
@Sophie in Denmark,
I remember seeing Amelie in our local (no defunct) art house movie theater when it was first released! I need to check if our local library has it on DVD.
And great job on kicking the soda habit! I wish my DH could do it.....he has tried off and on over the years, but just can't seem to do it. The last time he tried (a few years ago), he told me, "I just read that drinking diet soda is bad for you!". (Eye roll. lol). Which is something I'd told him numerous times. Sigh. (I drink plain, unflavored seltzer water, or plain water if we're in a restaurant).
@Liz B., Amelie is so great! Unfortunately the dvd I borrowed didn't have English subtitles, but I've seen it enough times to know the dialogue (and could translate the Danish subtitles for parts I didn't). The cafe from the film is real; I went there on my Paris trip!
I think I will just save sodas for special occasions because I really dislike plain sparkling water. I'm mostly drinking water right now - it helps that I have a filter jug. I was able to cut down from having it a few times a week to just at weekends, then only to one day at a weekend and then to going without it.
@Sophie in Denmark, good for you. i quit soda cold turkey when the dentist told my 16yr old daughter she couldn't drink it anymore. i didn;t want to keep it in the house and tempt her. saving so much money. i miss it a lot though. just drink water now. am diabetic 40 years now so no juice.
--My husband has gotten back into bread making, which is both delicious and saves us money at the store.
--We unthawed a loaf of banana bread from my step mom, which made for free and delicious breakfasts.
--I was aghast to discover I was out of caramelized onion portions in the freezer. Another 3 lbs of onions was thus transformed in the crockpot and frozen in trays to restock my cooking stash.
--While trying to keep us to $100/a month for groceries was overly ambitious, we've managed to stay around $150 thanks to our freezer full of venison. Thank you to my brother, the hunter!
--I made a new garden buddy! I have to split my irises this fall (it's so weird that we've been here that long already!), so I asked a neighbor if she'd like some. She, in turn, asked if I like peonies, as she has to split hers this fall, too. Free flowers for everyone! 😛
FFT, I Get By With a Little Help From My Friends Edition (revised/updated from a recent comment at the NCA):
(1) One of my two Sunday morning walking buddies had the other one, the other one’s husband, and me over for brunch this past Sunday. I skipped the walk because of the weather forecast (I wasn’t sure I was up to high winds and rain), and was late for brunch because I inadvertently turned off the ringtone on my flip phone, but it was a delicious meal and a good time anyway. The scrambled eggs a la Julia Child, and the smoked salmon from Costco, were highlights.
(2) On Sunday afternoon, I gave some gardening supplies I don’t plan to use again to the older daughter of Bailey dog’s human parents, who has recently bought a small place in the country east of here, and is experimenting this year with seed starting. The supplies included two electric grow mats (for seedlings like tomatoes and peppers), some plastic trays and pots for seedlings, and some tomato cages and other plant supports. I was very happy to pass these along to a deserving young friend, and she was very happy to get them. (And we were all amused to discover that two of the tomato cages, which DH and I constructed out of concrete reinforcing wire back in 1984, are 10 years older than she is.) I’ve been promised some of the eventual tomato crop.
(3) But then came a tornado warning! Dr. Bestest Neighbor emailed me about this (good thing, because my cell phone ringtone was still off!)–so I had just enough time to call my NDN and warn her, and then get my own keister into my basement. It only lasted about half an hour. We did get a sharp, fast line squall, but we never lost power, and I had no major damage in my yard. A neighborly network, no power loss, and no downed trees = very frugal things and a lot of luck.
(4) And then came the water outage: A cascade of events caused partly by the storm and partly by other factors resulted in most of the city’s losing water pressure or losing water altogether for a few hours. And the water coming out of the taps Monday morning was still a bit cloudy. Good thing I maintain my old habit (formed before the Y2K scare, for you young folks who are into ancient history) of keeping a dozen or so rinsed-out gallon vinegar jugs full of water on hand for such events. I’ve found that just buying and storing water in the usual plastic jugs doesn’t work as well; the vinegar jugs are sturdier.
(5) Finally, since I kept a low profile at home on Monday, I made a pizza–which I have shared with the Bestest Neighbors.
@A. Marie,
We dodged the tornadoes around me, too. I feel for those who got them. I'm glad you did!
@JD,
Sheesh, I'm glad you dodged them, not got them!
@A. Marie, So nice of you to pass along the gardening supplies. We saw Martha Stewart demonstrating how to plant seeds on a morning show the other day; her equipment/supplies included heat mats, grow lights and a "seed vibrator" which I found online for a mere $80! At least she didn't claim that growing your own food (her way) is frugal. 😉
@Bobi, I'm always glad to hear what Martha's been up to lately. And for once I'm not in a position to make fun of her, since over the years I invested in all those supplies except for the "seed vibrator" (???). The only way I've ever claimed to come close to breaking even on gardening is through the sets of dried herbs I give as gifts.
@JD and A.Marie, We also managed to avoid the tornados. Our sirens went off for a full hour and we were in overlapping tornado warning zones, with tornados to the south and west both moving in our direction. Miraculously, we only experienced a mild rainstorm. Glad you both avoided the worst of the storm, too!
@A. Marie,
I listened to NPR this morning and per Martha Stewart, gardeners must always, always, always get themselves a pet dog to chase squirrels out of their yards. OMG, I am doing something that Martha would approve of! (She was hawking a new gardening book she has out; I guess everyone will be flocking to stores to get it and to also get seed vibrators now. Sheesh!)
@Fru-gal Lisa, I thought Martha was a has-been and that “everyone” now follows other people (not that I can name one in the gardening arena). She sure has gone the distance. . .
@Fru-gal Lisa,
My dog would probably make friends with the squirrels. Ha.
@A. Marie,
I've always wanted to start veggies, flowers and herbs from seed, but I don't have a sunny-enough indoor spot in my house that wouldn't get disturbed by cats or our dog. The cost of buying electric warming mats and grow lights has always deterred me, much less buying a "seed vibrator", which I didn't even know was a thing.
@A. Marie, I just want to commend you on doing such a good job finding new homes and hands that can use the things for which you no longer have a need. It's been so nice to read over the years how you were able to connect things that your husband used to use or you both used to need with people who can use them. I love that and it's so proactive!
@JenRR,
For ya’ll who dodged the tornadoes, so glad you’re okay. Thankfully, they missed us, too, but 3 people in Arkansas died and many more were injured. I hate those nights when you are afraid to go to bed.
@Liz B., I use flourescent shop lights as my grow lights, and a heating pad--like the kind for your back--wrapped in aluminum foil as my warming mat. Starting seeds for sure does not need to cost a lot. (I also do not know what a seed vibrator is.)
@Fru-gal Lisa, only time I've had issues with squirrels was during a drought when green strawberries became a food source - DESPITE me feeding them. I have front yard squirrels (those that consumed green and subsequent years red strawberries) and back yard squirrels, who did not. First iteration of keeping them out worked, second iteration is easier on the older (read me and better half) and keeps them out. I can't get mad at the squirrels, they consume tons of nuts as well as cicadas. It was cicada year last year (thankfully NOT in the double whammy area). I read one million cicadas per acre, I'd believe it. We have over nine acres of land. Should be a bumper year of wildlife this year from those that consumed them. And cicadas make excellent fertilizer. Plus we had friends that harvested them a couple of times. Full disclosure - I haven't tried them. Perhaps should put that on my bucket list!
Good morning! I have a few frugal things to mention today.
1)my partial hysterectomy was covered by my insurances.
2) my husband packed his lunch and drinks for the time he was waiting for me to get out of surgery
3) out oldest son and his girlfriend brought pizza for everyone when I got home. I didn't eat any (anesthesia made me not hungry), but it didn't cost us anything, we didn't have to stop on the way home, and no one had to cook once we finally got home.
4) my pain reliever from the pharmacy cost $1.51 after the insurance.
5) my husband went to work today, because my 18yo is here, and my mom will be coming today and leaving on Thursday to help us.
@Lisa, Congratulations, you win the week for staying frugal during a not fun/difficult situation! 😉 Wishing you a quick and complete recovery.
@Lisa, wishing you a speedy recovery. I hope everything continues to go well.
Best wishes for a smooth recovery!
@Lisa,
I hope your recovery goes as well as mine did: I had a full hysterectomy 2 years ago, and now it is just a hazy memory. Everything is fine and all systems are go. Get to feeling better real soon!
@Lisa, I join everyone else in wishing you a rapid and uncomplicated recovery.
@Lisa, SO glad to hear your surgery did not break the bank.I have a hip replacement coming up and it seems my copays will be small with my medicare Advantage Plan,thankfully!!!!!
My sister was in for a visit & it was a very spendy visit, but I guess that’s why I’m frugal the rest of the year
* found an amazing side table & piece of art at AmVet Thrift store to fill in the blanks from my daughter’s flying the coop
* Also refreshed the bed linens in “her” garage apartment by using a bedspread she discarded & some well-placed EBay linens. Will be so pleased with the results & everything was <$125
* Fedtax refund hit my bank acct & an AmEx $350 rebate (which is nice, but just makes the annual fee more palatable)
*My daughter & her partner had oxtail ramen at our celebratory Saturday dinner. I brought their leftovers & those chunky bones home & it made an amazing 16 c of stock
*Happened to be in my basement yesterday am & heard a loud tick tock. Investigated and found water dripping from my ceiling. Panicked & called a plumber. Took a deep breath & saw that the ceiling was where my kitchen is. Pulled out the fridge- found it was the ice maker. Googled had to turn off the water. Cancelled the plumber & called the appliance repair people. Widowhood is not for the faint of heart, but I am still feeling so accomplished for dealing with it on my own!!! I Am Woman Hear Me Roar!!
@Diane, well done troubleshooting the refrigerator and dripping water!!
@PD, Thank you!! It felt like such an accomplishment
@Diane, And honestly- anyone who is alone has struggles. I didn’t mean that a widow’s plight was worse- it’s just what I understand intimately now. All the solidarity with all those figuring things out on their own! ❤️
@Diane, I'm hearing you roar across the miles.
@Diane, I hear you loud and clear. I'm more or less used to it now, but one of the hardest parts about having to take over from DH as he declined was dealing with the home maintenance stuff he used to do (or at least figuring out which of his goombahs to call to deal with it).
Not to throw shade (ok, I'm throwing shade) but one good thing about my situation is that there was next to no adjusting because...I was already doing almost all of it! Heh.
@Diane,
Yes, I am single and this is the story of my life. Before my dad passed away, I had always wondered why the Bible admonished the early church to be good to widows and orphans. Now I know why! But you get really tough and you learn to fend for yourself, as difficult as it is, and you grow stronger as a person. Hang in there, my friend!
@A. Marie, One of my biggest fears is how I would manage my home without my husband.I try hard to be logical.. to think ahead..I would get help for a year and then probably just move to a 55+ community,something smaller and easy to maintain.But.. we never know what is in store.Blessings to all dealing with this! When you omove into your 70’s you do begin to think of these things.. but, till then,I am living in the moments and enjoy and being thankful for every day!!
@Madeline, given my spouse is 7+ years older than I, I have a plan. I know enough about a lot of things - read: enough to not get ripped off. Will have contacts in most trades as well as the means to pay them. Short of a medical emergency that puts me in the hospital (and woe to my health care POA if she does NOT pull the plug), I will go on my own terms in the home in which I currently reside.
@Diane, good for you. you are doing just fine in the troubleshooting dept.
1. I usually pack our lunch when we'll be out during lunch, but today we're going to enjoy a Taco Tuesday deal, so it'll at least be less than a regular meal out.
2. I bought 2 used copies of books off ebay: one for my kids' book club, one fora Bible study.
3. My radishes are growing! And I'm stating to see cucumber and tomato sprouts!!
4. I had my daughter vacuum the van and I vacuumed out car. This is cheaper than vacuuming at a car wash.
5. I went grocery shopping yesterday and purchased several sale items. And our neighbor gave us free fresh eggs. His co-worker gave them to him, but he doesn't eat them. We on the other hand will gobble them up!
I wish it was only $14 for an inspection here. Where I live it is $35 every year!
Also we have like 4 pie plates and I almost never make pies. We use them for other things though.
My multi week FFT
1.) Sold more items on eBay. I need to list more but I am glad to be rid of the stuff and gaining more presidential flash cards.
2.) I bought myself a fancy pants ereader which I returned unopened. I had the money but I didn't need it and I don't want to waste more money when I can already use my old Fire tablet.
3.) I got some books waiting for me at the library. Some I may even end up buying someday for the right price but I'm happy to read them now.
4.) Bought some books on eBay at a good discount.
5.) The usual sales, eating leftovers, not buying a Subaru Sambar, packing lunches etc.
@Battra92,
Hmm, I still have the old kids' Fire tablet that DH used for a while, because it was easier for him to handle than a little phone. I might see if one of the grandkids is allowed to have it. Thanks for the idea!
Good thinking on the pie plate. I never even thought about you being able to ask your group; it's a good thing you did.
My FFT:
1. I had a little extra milk getting a bit old, so I made "buttermilk" biscuits with it.
2. I had a book in mind to give one of my granddaughters for birthday or Christmas but it was kind of expensive, since it just came out last year. I just found it at half-price, so it is purchased and ready for Christmas since her birthday has passed for this year.
3. I made a pot of chicken vegetable soup, using backs I freeze when I cut up whole chickens. There are enough bites of meat to pull off the bones for soup, but not enough to just eat as a piece of cooked chicken in a meal, so soup keeps the backs from being wasted.
4. I feel like A. Marie and I somewhat shared an experience. We had very windy weather this weekend ahead of that terrible front with tornadoes coming through, and with all the dead and dying trees around us, sure enough, a power line was knocked down by falling trees. It went out right at noon and was out until 2:30 and of course, I don't open the refrigerator during a power outage. I thought about going to town to buy lunch, but I had peanut butter, gluten-free bread, a fruit bowl full of cara-cara oranges and I had just pulled a cold bottle of homemade kombucha out of the refrigerator before the power went out, so I ate lunch at home, saving gas, time and cash.
5. I skipped the beer and wine tasting festival downtown this past weekend. Tickets were $30-$45, and were for a good cause plus there were food trucks, but I don't like most beers or wines, and I had no designated driver (my daughter was volunteering at the event and my granddaughter was working). Plus, I don't even want the slightest chance of a DUI! So I stayed home.
@JD, I'm glad to hear that your power outage didn't last any longer than it did. And, of course, you're more used to dealing with power outages, tornado warnings, etc., than I am. In fact, the reason the one Sunday afternoon caught me so much by surprise is that tornadoes are fairly rare here.
@A. Marie, don't count on that being true from here on out.
*Made soup out of two large bunches of asparagus that had gotten a little too limp for roasting. Really liked this recipe: http://www.onceuponachef.com/recipes/asparagus-soup-with-lemon. Our lovely asparagus comes from Mexico. At least for now. Fingers crossed….
*Realized my dog’s digestive system wasn’t fond of those Greenies Dental Treats (although she loved a small sample I had gotten for her to try), so I returned the unopened big box I bought last week for a $35.51 credit.
*Had gotten a good price and extremely good service for a tree removal two weeks ago, so asked for and received equally good estimates from the same contractor for some other landscaping and fencing work that I need. They will start on that the beginning of April.
@JDinNM,
My vet in Florida had a note posted to the front counter of her clinic that warned against Greenies. It's been 20 years now, and I can't remember why they were frowned upon, but from then on, I didn't get them for my doggies.
That’s wonderful that you can smog your own vehicles (perform your own emissions test.) Even your full service emissions tests are only $14??? I live in California and it varies how often you have to have your car smogged. I have to have it done every other year at this point (my car is over 10 years old. I didn’t have to have it done at all for the first few years, now it’s every other year.) Where I live, we have to take our vehicles to a smog station and it’s done for us, but it’s well over $60 each time. It would be a dream to pay $10-$14.
I had a once-in-lifetime kind of birthday party which I did not want to skimp on, but here are some things I did to make it more frugal:
1. We did not rent a place for the party but hosted it at home, just moving some furniture to make more space to dance.
2. Most all decorations were borrowed from friends or neighbors. We bought potted flowers which will last long after the party as well as some spot lights.
3. A friend who works in a print shop kindly printed out a poster, banner, and photos for us.
4. We cooked the food ourselves although we did consider takeout. We made a cold noodle salad with different protein toppings that my husband grilled. I usually bake a cake, but this time we splurged on nice bakery cakes so that I had less stress.
5. Alcohol for the cocktails was sourced from a "dollar-over" sale from the local liquor store, they have a sale twice a year where the liquor is a dollar over the price of the distributor's. My son who works in a bar was the professional bartender and was also able to source some things.
Plus: I created a fun playlist free on Spotify; I bought (expensive) Polaroid film for guests to take instant photos, but we had some frames as props that I had borrowed, the food we made created a lot of leftovers which we've been enjoying for a couple of days and I even took some to another gathering the next day. My outfit was part vintage, part thrifted, part expensive.
All in all, I'm happy we were able to pull it off!
@Kristina M., This sounds like an epic party. Yay, you!
@kristin @ going country, it really was so much fun! And when many people helped out, not too much work in the end.
Working hard on using up pantry goods. Now that DS#1's wound is all closed up (huzzah!) he no longer needs the supplemental collagen he was using. So I've been using it up, like Kristen, putting it in my oatmeal. It's supposed to be flavorless...but as Peg Bracken once wrote, it's really quite all right if you're ready for it.
I haven't been to Trader Joe's in literal years, but am still using up my favorite face lotion from there. It lasts forever! Alternating it with the pricier Cerave is working nicely.
Also ruthlessly going through regular subscriptions and culling those that are not strictly necessary. DH informed me this past month our expenses have gone down, even as our donations are going up, so I feel pretty good about that.
Library books. I was influenced by the Commentariat to check out Remarkably Bright Creatures and it's a good read! I'm a sucker (see what I did there?) for characters working through grief. Perhaps it will help me get over my cephalapodophobia.
@Karen A.,
I'm glad you are enjoying the book.
Marcellus is not at all frightening.
@Karen A., I dearly love that book. It holds up on a re-read, too!!
@Karen A., i just got the book today from my library. along with 3 others so i haven't started yet. am reading the cuban heiress now. it is a page turner.
When I get those big plastic bottles of honey home, I immediately pour them into glass mason jars. That way, when they inevitably crystallize, I can just microwave the whole thing back to liquid.
Smart thinking Kristen to ask the Buy Nothing group for a pie plate. I give away lots to our Buy Nothing group but have never thought to ask for something I need. Fortunately, our needs are minimal these days.
My frugal things:
- Got DH signed up for a library card. He was amazed at all the services our library offers.
- Paid $2 for a replacement library card for myself while we were at the library. I could have just gotten my #, but then I'd probably misplace that, so a physical card works better for me. Immediately requested to be put on waiting list for 2 books I want to read.
- Purchased items for donation drive going on at work when they were BOGO at Publix.
- Brought my lunch to work every day.
- DS is working on an art project for school and I'm supplying fabric, thread, batting, a sewing machine, and sewing lessons.
Frugal fail: My brother and SIL are horrible money managers and relied on my parents to fund their lifestyle. Now that our parents are gone, they are constantly in money trouble. My sister and I each gave a large sum of money to get their mortgage current so they could avoid foreclosure. And we didn't even get a thank you in return.
@Beverly,
That is so tacky! They should've thanked you. Chances are your bro and SIL will come to you again for help. Next time, make them read and follow Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover (it's a book, but a lot of churches also have TMM seminars, and sometimes Ramsey has a big TMM convention in various cities). Otherwise, you'll just enable their bad behavior and they'll bug you forever. So sorry you and your sweet sister had to go through this.
@Beverly, I'm sorry about your frugal fail. And at the risk of offering unwelcome and unsolicited advice, I'd recommend not bailing them out again. Put your own oxygen mask on first, as they tell us on airplanes.
(NB: My second sister bled my father dry for money, and would have done the same to my mother and my stepmother [Dad's second wife] if they both hadn't put their feet down. SS has just finalized her fifth divorce, and if she thinks she's getting any $$$ out of me, she's got another think coming.)
@A. Marie,
I've seen the same thing - once one "well dries up", they move on to the next one. It's sad and can really tear up families. I agree that the best thing is to stop providing any "water."
@Beverly, I, too, have a brother and SIL who are incredibly immature in how they handle money. I am sorry to say that for some years I would send them money when they were once more evicted for non-payment of rent, while having the money to buy a brand new fancy-assed car. What cured me was when I saw my husband get off one of the small 6 seater village planes, so very exhausted from walking through the entire village on icy paths (no plowed streets in that small place), falling, being constantly cold, dragging around a suitcase and a briefcase, looking out constantly for roaming polar bears...and it occurred to me that my brother had just asked for an amount of money identical to what my husband was making from this contract. In other words, the husband was suffering to support my brother's lifestyle! Somehow that connection had not occurred to be before. I never again had a problem with turning down requests for money from anyone.
@Fru-gal Lisa,
I hate when people don’t say thank you. No one HAS to do anything for you, so when they choose to do so, a thank you is certainly in order.
Several years ago, we decided to make a standard gift for newlyweds. I have a plaque I like to give that says, “ and they lived happily ever after” that has a cute house on an hill and tree with a heart hanging in the tree. We also give a check for $100 check (or more) and either the book, “The Millionaire Next Door” or Dave Ramsey’s “Financial Peace.” And we tell them to read the book!
@Beverly,
This reminds me of my in-laws, though my MIL was in charge of their money. My in-laws were very thrifty, and managed to save quite a lot for retirement. Her oldest child (OC) is horrible with money, and OC (daughter) and her husband spend every penny they have on whatever shiny object catches their fancy. (Commissioning a painting of this brother in law dressed in Daniel Boone-type garb comes to mind.) My MIL would lend money to them, their kids, and grandkids if asked, but she made them repay her on a schedule they mutually agreed upon. If unable to pay, she accepted work as payment. One niece cleaned MIL's (spotless) home every week for more than a year to repay a loan, for example. When she passed away, she left some $ to each child and grandchild, and my DH (her executor) forgave any outstanding loans she had made with family members. He also made sure everyone knew "the Bank of Ruth" (MILs name) was now closed.
@JD, yeah, I've seen the bleed dry first hand - and was part of *almost* shutting it down. We need stronger financial elder abuse laws - ones that look at the numbers, not rely on parents not wanting to say their child is bleeding them dry. Upside - my folks set the bar re: don't come knocking for money. Deadbeat relatives know to not show up at my house asking for money.
@Beverly, some people just don't have any manners. i am sorry that happened to you. you are a good sister.
pie pans...where do they come from? It seems like every couple of years I go through and get rid of a couple. I always give them to my mom because she makes a LOT of pies and usually gives them to people. She always tells them to keep the pie plate so she always needs some. I make pies twice a year at most so not sure why I end up with pie plates to give away.
My thrifty week (some are thrift relative because they are not cheap, but cheaper than they would have been): Also, seems like the Goodwill version haha
#1)The clearing/grading of the property has started. We were originally quoted $7,800 for the clearing/grading of small area and scrubbing of the wooded areas. Contractor came back this week after the big trees around the house were trimmed and the tree by the well was removed and gave us a contract for $6,300 all in...so even though still expensive, I'll take the $1,500 savings.
#2)I bought a brand new chefman airfryer/toaster oven/convection thing at goodwill (in box with the books). It was $15 and new they go for about $120.
#3)I bought 3 quilts from goodwill also. 2 were $3 and one was $8. I had also bought a pattern for a toddlers cape. I plan to use the quilts as cutters and make little capes from the quilts for a couple of friends with little ones for next winter. I also am going to make some placemats for my table from them. Last year I made my mom a house robe from a cutter quilt to wear around the house, and she loved it this past winter. My niece commented a few times on it, so I may make her one also. 3 quilts will go a long way and much cheaper than buying fabric for $14 total.
#4) I got DH a pair of heat proof gloves for when he's working with the kamado. His current ones are about shot and they're $20. I bought a new pair for $3 at goodwill.
#5) DH's brother was in for a weeklong visit. The last night we had a big family dinner. I used what we already had in the freezer and pantry and made a build your own burrito night. Only thing I had to buy was a lettuce and tomatoes. We had thought about going out, but that would have been a $250 bill and everyone was just as happy with burritos and ice cream.
Ate at home for all my meals this week, didn't fill the car up with gas this week as I've stayed pretty local, sold 2 items on FB marketplace and emptied space in my attic. Yay!
That's exactly why I thought someone on my group might have an extra one they wanted to give away! 😉
Busy, busy weekend at our house hosting St. Patrick's Day for 40 people. This is a family event that everyone looks forward to, and we enjoy putting it together.
Didn't really save a lot, but here is what we did save:
1. Bought the 27 lbs of corned beef at Sam's. We saved all our credits from the previous year and got a total of $40. off. Also they had $3.00 off each package of meat at checkout. Still expensive, but the meat tasted amazing this year.
2. Made Whiskey Bread pudding for dessert and had half a 9x13 pan left over. Froze it for a future dessert when we have guests.
3. One sister's contribution is always Long Island bagels. I froze the ones we really like for later, we ate a bunch and then dropped off the remaining at my husband's work.
4. Another sister's contribution is coffee from her work that she gets for free. Didn't use it all, so will be brining it to my scrapbooking crop that I am hosting in a few weeks.
5. Made corned beef hash with all the leftover corned beef and potatoes. We usually serve it for breakfast on Sunday morning for whoever stops by. I heated it all up and then split and froze the remaining into 3 packages for future use for my husband and myself.
6. There is also enough beer leftover for a couple of months for my husband to enjoy.
@Maureen,
Yum, Long Island bagels are the BEST!!
@Maureen, going to visit my daughter this weekend and we are bringing bagels with us. She needs her fix.
We took DS18 skiing this weekend for his birthday, along with 5 friends. While decidedly not cheap, here are a few things we did to save money:
1) I brought lots of snacks along with us, including easy breakfast items, as well as protein bars, etc that could be brought to the mountain for a fill in lunch.
2) DH & I only had a one day ski pass, so we skipped skiing yesterday & Saturday. We should have chosen Monday instead of Sunday though, as we chose the day with lots of wind holds, lines & minimal snow. DS18 reports that Monday was the best snow he's seen.
3) We used $240 of free food vouchers we got with the hotel. We used the $100 voucher to buy dinner for the teens on Saturday night (pizza & pasta). We used the $115 voucher for our dinner. Then we used a $25 voucher to get some additional breakfast items (and much needed coffee) yesterday.
4) We stopped at Costco for a gas refill, and to feed everyone who was hungry. Impossible to beat the price of the Costco food court.
5) I'm packing the remaining snacks for a trip to Sedona (I leave this morning). While not ideal to have the trips back to back, my BFF is a school administrator, and can only meet up during very limited weeks. This is her spring break. On the Sedona trip, I redeemed Hyatt points to cover all of our lodging!
I buy honey from a place where I can bring my own jar, so I bring a half-gallon Mason jar. This inevitably crystallizes before I get through it, of course. I was very proud of myself this weekend for finally getting the last couple pints into liquid form again; I put it in a pot of water on my hot woodstove, which works because the glass is heavy enough to keep it underwater even when it's half empty. Next time I need to remember to just pour it into pint jars when I get home, though.
1. Received the contractor discount at the paint store since I was buying more paint for a space that was originally painted by our contractor.
2. Purchased an end table at the consignment store for $30 during a 20% off sale.
3. Painted the end table above using random paint left by the previous owner of our home.
4. Used a bag of stuffing mix from Buy Nothing in an egg bake.
5. Received a set of hinges from Buy Nothing to replace our rusty ones.
We also were thankful to avoid damage from the whole day of serious storms that came through during the weekend. The only side effect was all the rain perked our lawn up considerably.
Yesterday I did the frugal shopping sweep through Ollie's Outlet, Aldi and the big Goodwill store. Bought enough groceries to see us through the next two weeks for $86 and some change. These included a dozen free-range eggs for $5.97, which was two cents less expensive than ordinary eggs, and a nice pork butt roast marked down to $5.51.
Most of the summer clothes I bought at Goodwill needed some minor alterations, for which my stash of recycled buttons and hand-me-down spools of thread came in handy. It was about two and a half hours of sewing and an expenditure of $48 at the store for six tops, two pairs of jeans and a dress.
Started working with my nervous older dog on daily brushing her teeth and it's going very well. She may still need a under-anesthesia cleaning as she is a mix of two breeds that are prone to dental issues, but her teeth and breath are improved already.
I was surprised when I moved to my current state and found out no inspections are required for regular vehicles. In the previous state I had lived, we had to get both general inspections and emissions inspections every year. It was such a pain and the mechanic could fail you on anything down to older windshield wipers, forcing you to purchase wipers from them to pass (or replace them yourself and then pay someone for another inspection).
- Yesterday, I called our trash hauler to lower our bill. It was a painful amount of time on the phone, but I got through it and got the amount I wanted.
- We are going on a trip (definitely not frugal), but I always opt for a mini-kitchen. We typically eat two meals a day at the room, plus my kid with food allergies is much easier to feed this way.
- I recently started using the Insight Timer app to meditate and manage anxiety issues. I do still see a therapist, but multiple daily guided meditations are certainly cheaper using an app than visiting a professional that often.
@JenRR, which state did you live in with those painful requirements?? (Not that I’m planning to move, but inquiring minds need to know!)
Oh yes, calling any large company requires a painful amount of time on the phone. It takes forever to reach a human, who resorts to the hold button either because A. She is in charge and you are Nobody or B. She doesn’t know anything about your topic or C. She is only provided with a script to follow and not allowed to think. Big companies do not care about their customers. Makes me hate making calls.
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, I recently called Vermont Country Store's customer line and was blown away by how the call went: answered by a human based in the U.S., issue discussed, she had the authority to fix the situation, and cheerful to boot. What customer service used to be like.
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, The painful requirements were St. Louis Co, MO. I’m sure if they’re still that strict, but it was such a pain. When I moved to Illinois, I kept thinking I was getting incompetent information. Now, I just go online and pay for plate renewal and they mail me the stickers. They don’t care about any of that other stuff.
We've just returned from a two-week trip to Texas to see family. A highlight was meeting two grown nieces we found through DNA testing -- my husband's estranged brother's daughters. We really hit it off with them.
We drove our camper down there and camped throughout the trip at a combination of free and low-cost campgrounds. We spent $150 on camping for the whole two weeks, so I call that a frugal win. (Gas, however, was around $500 -- still cheaper than flying.) We took our dogs with us and didn't have to pay for pet sitting or boarding (they are experienced, good travelers.)
We treated family to a couple of meals out, were treated ourselves twice, and ate food we prepared ourselves the rest of the time.
Not frugal: Ended up on a toll road by mistake and got hit with a very hefty toll. That was on the way down there. We did not make the same mistake on the return trip.
I love baked cinnamon apples in my oatmeal. It is a delicious morning treat.
I have been pondering what I have done this week and I can't really say that I was exceptionally frugal. However, I have done a few things which saved a little money.
• I didn't go to the Irish pub for St Patty's Day. I cooked corned beef and cabbage for my extended family at home. I turned the children's mashed potatoes green using a little food coloring. I used decorations that I've had for years to set the table. We had fun!
• My daughter-in-law's uncle is in hospice. She really wanted to go home and say goodbye. She and my son are on a tight budget right now. So I used my Southwest points to purchase a plane ticket for her. DH and I will also help with the kiddos over the next few days.
• I made my monthly trip to Costco to stock up on essentials. While there I also filled the gas tank. Gas is $.50 cheaper a gallon this week than it is at the local gas station.
• I did not attend a local sporting event where tickets are a minimum of $150 a day. Instead my husband watched it on TV. Unfortunately, we still had to deal with the traffic.
• I did all the usual things. I drank primarily filtered water from the refrigerator. I brewed my own coffee. I ate simple meals cooked by my husband during this busy week. And as always, there was a library book by my bed and an audiobook on my phone which was downloaded using my library apps.
Wishing everyone, peace, good health, and prosperity.
@Bee,
What a sweet thing to do for your daughter-in-law. You are a thoughtful mother-in-law.
@JD,
She is a very special person. My son hit the jackpot when he married her!
1. I met a friend for coffee and used a gift card to pay for it.
2. I've been faithfully submitting receipts to Fetch.
3. I started lots of flowers and tomatoes in my little 4-shelf greenhouse. My daughter also had some cat grass seeds that were given to her and she has three pots going. That stuff grows fast!
4. My plan A for a potluck side dish didn't work out, so I raided my cupboards the morning of and threw 5 cans of corn, a stick of butter, and salt and pepper in a crock-pot. Easy peasy and it saved a last-minute trip to the store.
5. My daughter had a 45-minute break between drama rehearsals last night, but I packed a dinner for her instead of ordering a dinner through the café that's right next to the auditorium.
...I switched from turbotax to freetaxusa, and I'll never go back. Much cheaper, and easier to use to boot. Instead of spending all the money that turbotax spends on advertising, they spend on just making a good product. And I got a personal best, got my fed taxes to 15 bucks owed, juggling 2 w2's and 7 or 8 various types of 1099's and tweaking withholding during the year.
You remind me of when my (bookkeeper and math whiz) mom was alive! So nice to have your mom do your taxes! RIP, Mom and Dad. Today would've been Dad's birthday.
1. Last week I had Friday off, so I attended our church's outdoor Stations of the Cross observance. Seems there were fewer people than usual due to spring break. The sponsors had brought the usual amount of snacks, which were too many. So I was given a bunch of oranges to take home.
2. Not frugal for me, but for the lady who rescued my soon-to-be puppy dog: our store has a machine where you can print out coupons. So during my break, I printed out a whole lot of dog food and pet care coupons for her. Since she fosters 10 dogs and has 8 of her own, I figure she can use them.
3. Putting my front room back together after having the flooring installed, I saw where the painters had let some paint drip on the outlet covers. Plus, the white covers don't go well with the new paint color; they stick out like a sore thumb. Did you know some outlet covers sell for as high as $27 apiece? Some even more than that! OUCH! But I found some fancy gold-tone brass ones online for around $5 each and ordered those. (Actually a pack of 3 for $15.) It's a big room and I have 8 electrical outlets. The extra one will go in the entryway. And, boy, the walls look 100% better with this new hardware installed! If I ever have to sell my house, that will help it show better and thus add to its value.
4. Before ordering online, I went to my usual bargain/secondhand haunts to see if by chance they had any outlet covers. No, but at Salvation Army's thrift store, I saw two really pretty copper-colored switch plate covers that I could use in a bedroom. (Which will become my home office: next project.) They were in a Ziplock bag together and were priced $2.50. Sold! Again, this spiffs up the room a lot and adds value to the whole place.
5. Again, frugal help for the dog rescue lady: After finishing the paint job last summer, and despite repeated reminders, the painters have never, ever come by to get their drop cloths. Which the guys didn't need since I told 'em that I was replacing the carpet so it didn't matter if the paint dripped on the old, unsalvageable carpet. Their drop cloths included a king-sized bed mattress cover, some tablecloths, and old draperies. I'm tired of that stuff being in the garage all these months, so I offered them to the doggie rescue. The lady happily took them off my hands. Since they weren't ever used for drop cloths, and therefore have no paint on them, all this material can be used for dog blankets/bedding.
@Fru-gal Lisa, happy birthday to your late father!
I had hoped to have a longish list from Freecycle but sadly, no. The 6-7 things I was interested in were either taken or the person didn’t respond - which means probably taken. :-<
I did have a fun evening with a friend, the only cost was the $25 for the event we streamed. Dinner was foods we already had including the salmon crudo she wanted to finish up (life is so hard), and we gave each other foods each of us didn’t want.
I was sick in bed for a few days, during which time I started (and finished) a throw blanket for the LR that I made from Freecycled yarn. Much better than buying one.
I got the last check for things I auctioned or consigned. It was a pitiful $12 but the marginal effort was zero since it was part of the large pile I sent to auction, and it’s still $12.
I had the hospital resubmit a large claim that my insurance company turned down. The reason was dumb beyond belief - the company revamped their systems and didn’t create a way to associate the old patient ID numbers with the new ones - so maybe this time it’ll be covered properly.
@WilliamB, dummy me forgot the best one: I fixed the broken dishwasher by learning how to clean the trap and replace the filter.
In reading the manual I also learned that this dishwasher doesn’t have a heated dry cycle, it relies on residual heat. RTFM is useful - I’d been wondering since I moved in how to skip the dry cycle because it’s unnecessary and wasteful.
@WilliamB,
I agree, don't use the heat dry option. A repair guy also told us it's best to run your hot water til it gets hot before you turn on the dishwasher. That way hot water immediately hits the dishes. He said the best option is to use Smart Wash, High Temp and to skip the dry cycle.
I need to remind myself of some frugal things I do without even thinking about them…
* My husband has tapped the maple trees for the annual syrup production. We use all recycled bottles that people so kindly return to us when they go empty. And he boils using wood that has been harvested from fallen trees in our yard.
* I had an e-coupon for $13 off my order at the grocery store.
* used a coupon for a free bag of carrots
* I used an old piece of stationary to write my grandson a letter. I enclosed a package of sunflower seeds from last year or him to plant in the back yard.
* Hung some towels on the line to dry. It’s still too early to put all the laundry out, but I am anxious for that day! Love drying clothes in the sun!
Self-service smog check?? And only $14 if someone else does it? It is more like $60 or $70 in California. Like yours, it is required every two years. And it isn’t even checking for the things that actually cause smog (according to a guy who was doing it for me one year). The Central Valley is a bowl where the smog collects as is blows through the Altamont Pass from the Bay Area, and we get penalized by Sacramento for our bad air!!! My state is such a special kind of stupid.
Done complaining. No interesting frugals this week—just regular life, with the normal routines of not wasting money (SO I CAN PAY FOR THE NEXT SMOG CHECK??!)
1. Stocked up on grocery sale/store coupon items for the pantry and got 75 cents fuel saver to use later.
2. Returned an item to Lowes that wasn't needed for our dryer install.
3. Batching errands when I drop off a child to a sporting thing tonight and getting spring cleaning goodwill drop offs out of my trunk!
4. Made spaghetti and used up the heels of 3 loaves of bread for garlic toast.
5. Filled out a local electric co. rebate form for $25 for getting a new washing machine. Also filled out a rebate form for a free extended warranty for our new washer/dryer. (dryer conked out a few weeks ago and we had them for 16 years, so it was frugal to get new at this point before tariffs, etc. drive prices up)
* Date night with hubby: cheap night at the movie theater (10$ each) + restaurant meal (will use a coupon for a free personal pizza, so we only pay for his meal)
* Bought a garbage bag full of clothes for myself, at the thrift store, for 10$. Also grabbed a couple "new with tags" items to resale (in the same bag). What I don't sell I'll give away on my Buy Nothing group
* Sold a pair of shoes I bought at a garage sale for 1 $ years ago and never worn. Made 25$.
* Have been bringing all lunches and snacks at work since January
* Been working extra shifts lately
Interesting! My state requires emissions testing yearly as part of a yearly vehicle inspection (the inspection also includes testing of safety features, tires, etc.). It costs about $20.
1. I juiced some over-ripe oranges.
2. My daughter is in the school talent show. She wanted a dress for her performance. I dug around in the clothes I have been saving from Buy Nothing and found her 2 dresses to chose from.
3. My mom gave us 3 loaves of bread, 2 bags of oranges, a bag of onions, and some sweet potatoes.
4. Sold my son's bike on Facebook Marketplace
5. We had a ton of dead branches that fell over the past few months. We had a nice fire in our fire pit, for free, using the branches.
1. My sister is coming for a visit so I’ve been looking for free/low cost activities in our area. The trick is that I need to find things to do that will entertain a 14 year old (mine) and a six year old (hers). I’m watching the weather to determine what we will end up doing.
2. My son needed a haircut so we found a new salon (discount) who had a new-to-them employee (another discount).
3. To prepare for my sister’s upcoming visit, I planned this week’s menu to only pull from the pantry and freezer. I expect we’ll cover most expenses while she is here so this should give us a buffer.
4. My office is hosting a Business Dress clothing swap. I went through my closet and pulled out work clothes that just aren’t working for me anymore. Hopefully someone will get extra miles out of them.
5. I batched a bunch of errands this weekend: gas (using upside), oil change (with a coupon), Target (household items and returns), practice, library.
Hooray for a free pie plate! And I love your idea for using the wrinkly apple. I'm going to have to steal that one, usually I just toss the odd wrinkly apple to the chickens and let them turn it into eggs but your solution sounds much yummier.
Here's my 5 frugal things (I stretched one event into two bullet points in order to hit 5)
1. Washed the truck at home by hand on a really warm day rather than taking it to the (pay money) car wash.
2. Took leftover chicken from two different meals and turned it into chicken Alfredo for Saturday's dinner.
3. Used a free yoga series on YouTube to practice yoga 3 different days (trying to keep myself flexible).
4. Made pancakes from scratch with my granddaughter when she was here for a sleepover this weekend.
5. Used homemade maple syrup on the pancakes.
Self serve emissions test?? That’s amazing. In CA when we have to get a smog check we have to go to a special mechanic and it cost at least $50. Blah. Yay for you!
1) I came in exhausted from a weekend conference on Sunday night, and my husband and I really didn't want to meal plan and prep food for the week. But we did. I made an Aldi order first thing on Monday and stopped by Costco for a couple things that I prefer to get there. We don't have anything fancy planned for this week, but enough to keep everyone too well fed and satisfied to be tempted to take out.
2) I rode the Atlanta MARTA to and from the airport this weekend. I had my doubts because I know Atlanta's reputation for transportation infrastructure. But aside from the smell it really was fine and easy. And it only cost me $7 round trip.
3) Our little clothes horse son is about to turn six. When I say clothes horse, I mean he is a dresser like I didn't think possible for a six year old. When I lay down in bed with him before he falls asleep at night he tells me about all the jackets and jeans and Jordans he wants me to buy him. So I went on Thred up yesterday and bought a few clothing items I know he will love. I need to hit a couple Goodwills over the next couple weeks. I really want to give him a pile of clothes to up his wardrobe, but we also have got to keep it to a budget.
4) We are moving our business back home after being in a commercial space. So we are consolidating and organizing. We gave away our ancient, giant filing cabinet because it is ancient and has no key. In its place I, just this morning, bought a 2 drawer filing cabinet for $12 on FB. I would love to have found it for free, but $12 and picking it up on my way to work was a win for me.
5) We need care for the kids while school is out over spring break. Instead of having the two that are in aftercare go for the whole week since we pay by the day, we decided to just have them go the three days that week that would be most helpful.
After being more than sufficiently warned and having many events and even stores close for potential wind and weather, we were hit with some high gusts of wind just at the squall line. I did not lose power, although many outlying people did. It still proved to be a beneficial test, in that I changed a fluorescent and incandescent bulb (to a swirly light) in the basement that needed changed anyway. I also prepped a to go ice cream bucket with emergency items for Molly and me and set up a sitting station in the basement. I was concerned about the ash tree (that needs to come down) just south of the house. I was very thankful our storm situation was quite minimal. And my heart has been heavy for all of those who were affected. Those of us unaffected have ample opportunity to give help to those in need who will be feeling the ravages for years to come.
Frugal 1) the fluorescent light bulb was free from our church (I received a box at the time) when we changed to a warmer white. Also the swirly light was free when I received a box from a friend who'd changed to all LED bulbs.
Frugal 2) Canceled out of town plans for the weekend (I may have used this last week) and saved on gas, at least one night's hotel stay, eating out, and shopping.
Frugal 3) Stayed home, left the car parked.
Frugal 4) Slow cooked a small corned beef with the fixins'. Plus it has considerably less sodium than in years past. I feel like I can eat it for a couple of meals this week w/o my b/p suffering the consequences.
Frugal 5) Purchased a couple of pairs of pants at Marshalls. The dress pair of navy blue pants is a very nice weight and are well fitting. The only caveat? the shiny, silver buttons on the back pocket flaps. Why? I got out my old button box and and found suitable matching navy blue buttons and tacked the flaps down at the same time. Shortened both pair avoiding a tailor's expense. (And there actually is a tailor less than a block over from where I live.)
I am glad our state does not require emission testing to cars. Even state inspections are relaxed from original, but then I also see less beaters on the road.
I wish our state (AZ) had 24 hour self-service emissions testing! That's very cool!
Well, I SPENT money but it was to replace items ready to give up the ghost in my home..and I decided we needed to purchase before the tariff situation may cause prices to go up.So I got a new vacuum cleaner, and a new dryer (my 30 year old dryer was overheating= fire risk!!!) My crock pot was cracked, also dangerous, so got one on sale at kohls with coupons and specials. We were shopping for a new couch since 2020! Couldn't find the style and quality we wanted.We keep our furniture for 20+ years,usually!!!!! Ours is way old.. and I FINALLY found a set we liked, on a very nice 35% off over the Presidents Day sales. Got the BEST price and free delivery. AND sold our very old couch for $500..my son insisted SOMEONE would want it on fb marketplace and they did! A bonus!!
That’s a lot, but we are retired, house paid off,don’t travel a lot, like some retirees do, and our HOME is such a comfort to us..we spend a LOT of time here. Having the ladies over today to play cards and have pot luck lunch..we USE Our home..sooo.. had to do some upgrades.
Normal frugal living continues: Cooking up dry beans from covid stash, planning menus and sticking to grocery lists. Wearing clothes I have, not buying more even at consignment stores, gong to library, I never buy books. Contributing to my Boy nothing group when I clear out garage and closets.
Self service smog testing! Wow, definitely don’t have that here in CA.
Kristen,
I use pie plates all the time to heat up leftovers. I have found that 30 minutes at 300 degrees reheats most food put in a pie plate covered with foil. Keeps food moist and not dried out.
Five frugal things
– I took some things we didn't need to a local thrift shop that benefits a homeless shelter and work program.
– I made myself a document on my phone so I can list the frugal things I do through the week! This makes me more mindful about what I do.
– I made a batch of homemade laundry detergent. I can make 3 gallons for pennies a load compared to regular commercial laundry detergent. I started doing it about 10 years ago when detergents made my husband's skin itch. I use Fels Naptha laundry soap, washing soda, Borax and water. I mix it in a 3 gallon bucket and then use a funnel to pour it into old recycled laundry detergent bottles.
– I tried a new solution to clean my oven. It's frugal since it was made from dish soap, lemon juice, vinegar and water. It didn't work quite as well as using a paste made from baking soda and water. Since it's a liquid in a spray bottle, it would not cling to sides of oven, but it did okay on the bottom of oven. I let it sit for two hours. Perhaps overnight would've been better. I have an electric stove with a self-cleaning oven which I sometimes use on a half cleaning cycle when my husband isn't home because he hates the smell. However, I have read all these things about how the self cleaning cycle can fry your stove so I'm always hesitant to use it, especially since our stove is older. So I thought I'd try this solution and see how it worked. Meh . . . I ran the self clean option for an hour to finish up what my experimental cleaning didn't get. I might try mixing some baking soda into some of what I already mixed up to make a paste next time I need to clean the oven.
-- I recycled my Sunday paper to my sister. I do this every week as a subscription has gotten very expensive.
I am preparing to leave for vacation tomorrow people and my soul is SO very ready. My caretaker self feels very guilty but I am just putting that on the back burner and proceeding because I know that my mind and body need this trip and my son needs it as well.
1. I have packed snacks in my carry on. Going to the beach for four days with a growing 9 year old boy - we will be doing lots of walking, bike riding, and some swimming and that means he will be hungry and so will I. I am doing my best to avoid crazy island prices.
2. I reserved an Uber to get us to the airport since there is no one to take us. This will avoid the super expensive cost of airport parking. I used a coupon when reserving to save 20%.
3. I made a huge batch of homemade chicken noodle soup last night which will keep me from having to cook before I go and provide options for those who aren't traveling with us. Plus homemade bone broth...is there anything more healthy.
4. Last week I went and packed up a bunch of things for my Mom in a very dust filled room and I came home with allergies that were just terrible. I remember reading somewhere, actually I think it was in the lyrics of a country song that a teaspoon of local honey kept runny noses away. SO silly but I did that and it worked! 3 days of some Mucinex and Zyrtec did nothing. I took the honey and was 100% in 2 days. Cheaper for sure and healthier as well. I will be doing this most of the Spring now that pollen is becoming active in my area.
5. I hit the grocery store for some meal items like pot roast, hot dogs, and a few other odds and ends that will keep those at home fed while I am gone to avoid take out costs.
@Angie, Enjoy your trip with your son - times of refreshment are essential for caregivers. Hope it's a great break!
Kristen, I'm sure you already know this (since you shop at Sam's Club) but they typically have TurboTax software that's reduced in price and often goes on sale in January. I've bought it the past few years as we have somewhat complex taxes (my husband is a pastor, so clergy tax rate.)
-Diapers were on sale! It's amazing how expensive something only used for a few hours at a time can be.
-I got a few reimbursements for medical expenses, and should receive a few more shortly.
-We received our state tax return, and our federal was accepted, so we should (hopefully) receive that soon as well.
-Gas was $2.69 at Sam's club today.
@Hannah,
Also!
-I found maternity jeans on ebay for much less than full price, and, like most maternity items, were very minimally worn. I hate to pay full price for anything, but especially something with such a clear expiration date.
-I bought new running shoes with a gift card from Christmas, which covered all but $4 of the purchase!
The fact that you got a pie dish and hardly make pie anymore made me chuckle. I was gifted a pie dish from neighbors that are moving and I've found it to be the best thing to Dremel holes in the sea glass I found years ago.
Frugal things:
1) Reused packing material to send something I sold on Poshmark.
2) Used a wrinkling apple for crepe filling, along with the last couple spoonfuls of yogurt.
3) Tacking onto #1, listed unused items on Poshmark and bought some new-to-me items for summer. I live in a very different climate now and this was a good way to declutter and get some summer clothes, which I didn't need much before.
4) Made my own chocolate covered espresso beans. I bought some whole beans that were on sale and we don't like the taste of them for coffee, but covered in chocolate they sure taste good. I'll be adding them into espresso cookies, too.
5) My phone broke and I was tempted to buy a new one. However, we had a phone we no longer use from a business we closed in 2023, so I swapped my SIM card.
1. Was taken out to lunch and dinner this week by two different friends. I don’t eat out often so it was a really nice treat.
2. Used CVS coupons to get more cards for upcoming birthdays. I got 3 cards for $3.00 out of pocket.
3. Participating in the 40 day Target boycott and have not bought anything on Amazon in about a month.
4. Scheduled a free haircut at a local salon as part of their ongoing training for stylists. I will tip well.
5. Borrowed a power washer and power washed my deck steps. It took some time and my water bill will be higher but I didn’t have to pay someone to do it.
Kristen, I thought I learned this trick from you: I buy the large honey at Costco and pour it into small-mouth canning jars. Once it's in glass, it's easy to deal with if it crystalizes.
I kept my pie plates for a long time as a couple were from my mom and a couple were my aunt's. I finally split them up as I don't need that many. Made sure my daughter got one.
Frugal things:
1. Sister in law is moving to Colorado and asked me if I wanted my mother in law's hope chest. Yes Please! It's a Lane and has the moth warrenty printed inside the lid. Hubby did some mending on it and now it's ready to rock and roll.
2. Found .04 in the self check out.
3. Finally used up my Starbucks gift cards that I was carrying around. Used one while going to Maryland to see our daughter and remembered that they had egg bites. I love egg bites! So I got those for the drive down. Then hubby and I were going to his sister's house (sister-in-law) who was having an indoor yard sale. Stopped at the Judy Blume rest area on the Garden State Parkway and used the last of my gift cards on another round of egg bites. Delish! The Parkway has named rest areas after certain popular Jersey people such as Jon Bon Jovi and James Gandofini.
4. Claimed a gift card for Olive Garden off of my Fetch account. Just remember that gift cards take 72 hours to down load. Olive Garden is having their bogof sale now so more food for us!
5. Returned the clothes that didn't fit me, got cheap gas at Costco (2.71) and kept the grocery bill in check.
1. We cooked all our meals at home. We brewed coffee at home. I forgot to buy creamer, so my coffee will be black until I go back to the grocery store.
2. We enjoyed free entertainment.
3. We got new books and a board game from the library. We returned the game when we were in the area. I got an audiobook through the libby app.
4. We made birthday cards instead of buying them.
5. A business is closing, so we went to check out the deals. I bought one thing that I needed. Two kids found some birthday presents for a sibling. We didn't get anything just for the deal.
Sorry but I'm leery that what you bought is really honey. Top clue is product of three countries. Do some research and I'll be there is a true honey producer in your area. Which greatly lessens the chance of the honey crystalizing.
I'm on the road for 2 months performing at a Renaissance Festival so my 5 is weird.
1. I'm going with the free without utilities camping option that is part of my contract. Fortunately, we have a shower house and I invested in portable solar panels this year to charge personal and sound system equipment. Oh and my as a kid all our vacations were camping vacations (in a camper. I'm in a tent) and I was Girl Scout.
2. I visited the sponge docks at Tarpon Springs for free fun on my day off after searching Roadside America for free and weird tourist traps.
3. I bought a Groupon to take a discount flame working glass blowing class to make this expensive hobby a little less expensive.
4. I bought a 63% off ticket to Busch Gardens through T Mobile and checked off a bucket list item of feeding my all time favorite animal - flamingos! I road a ton of riding roller coasters which my husband is not a fan.
5. I'm cooking meals so I have leftovers that I can easily reheat for dinner on show days instead of buying dinner. More often than not I am so exhausted after giving my all that I practically pass out in my hair and makeup after the show closes for the day. All of the smiles and patron interactions are worth it.
Just a note regarding tax filing, if no one’s mentioned it yet, freetaxusa.com is completely free to efile federal and $15 to efile a state. It sounds pretty scammy, haha, but it’s not. And if you are over the income level for the free versions of other programs, you can still use this one. I like it just as well as the software I used to spend $80 a year for.
@M,
I've used this site for the past few years and it's easy to navigate and just costs for the state. I'd rather save my money when filing.
-I did not bring my wallet on an outing with a friend to a new town. We stopped at an aptly named chocolate store - Joy - and I didn’t have any $ but I enjoyed the smells & sights!
- a friend is moving and let me raid her freezer, I got several Costco bags of frozen fruit & veggies, edamame and some chuck roast.
-friend also let me raid her pantry, now I have enough coconut milk to last through the summer!
- listed a few books to sell on PangoBooks
-daily playground visits with friends kiddos are a nice practice of “staying in the moment”
-got a ride to/from courthouse from a friend, which saved me the Lyft cost of $17 round trip! Also got bonus of friends support on an emotionally difficult day.
You have to pay for emissions testing? Our is free