Five Frugal Things | snap!
See item #5 for the snapped-key situation. 😉
1. I cut up some bread odds and ends
You know how that last bun, or the ends of a loaf of bread often sit there, forgotten and neglected?
I cut those up and froze them, and I will probably turn them into croutons one night this week, to go on top of a salad.
Freezing food is a great strategy to prevent waste, as long as you remember that you actually froze the food and that you need to use it up.
So that's why I'm planning to make the croutons this week. I will remember my bread cubes for at least a few days.
In a few months, though? I might forget!
By the way, to make croutons, I usually saute the bread cubes with butter until they're slightly toasted and well coated, and then I bake them in my toaster oven until they're crispy. You can also use other fats, such as olive oil.
2. I made pudding with my extra milk
I do sometimes employ other milk-waste-avoidance strategies (like buying half gallons), but this time I'd bought a whole gallon from Sam's Club, and the last bit was smelling very slightly off.
Sooo, I made a batch of this fuss-free chocolate pudding.
Zoe and I both love chocolate pudding, and as we have established before, the slight milk sourness is totally undetectable in pudding.
Also: I'm gonna put in another plug for dark chocolate cocoa powder. (Amazon link, but you should be able to find it cheaper at your local grocery store)
Dark cocoa powder improves everything I make with it, like:
If you are the sort of person who likes their chocolate ice cream to be so dark brown that it's almost black, you are gonna love this cocoa powder!
3. I baked my sweet potatoes in my toaster oven
Typically, I try to bake a batch of sweet potatoes when my oven is already hot from something else. I know a grand portion of the electricity an oven uses is consumed by the initial heating process, so it's not a big deal to keep it running once it's already hot.
But this week, I didn't have any other oven plans, and I thought, "Hmm, I could probably bake these in the toaster oven!"
I did some googling to confirm that it is, in fact, cheaper to keep a toaster oven on for 45 minutes as compared to an oven, and I was right.
(Part of me wondered if the toaster oven only has an electricity advantage for short baking periods!)
Anyway. This is pretty small beans in terms of cost savings, but I thought I'd throw it out there, just for information's sake.
Right now, I'm not concerned about heating my house up from either the toaster oven or the regular oven, but...in the summertime, I'm gonna try putting my sweet potatoes in the crock pot.
Crock pots are stupid cheap to run, and they do not heat a house up, which is important when we're running air conditioning.
4. I made chicken broth
I was getting tired of having to move the two rotisserie chicken carcasses out of the way every time I wanted to go freezer spelunking (which we know I do on the regular!)
So, I used my tried and true method to make a pot of chicken broth, and now I have containers of broth in my freezer instead of bulky chicken carcasses.
Much better for spelunking purposes. 🙂
5. I ordered a cheaper replacement key for Zoe
When she and I first got the Civic that she drives, it only came with one key. So, I ordered a new electronic key to have as a backup, and man, those things are expensive (like, over $100!)
Also, it took months and months to come in, because they were having supply chain issues.
I'm really glad I ordered that, though, because Zoe's original key broke the other day! I think the plastic was just old, so when she tried to remove the key from the ignition, it snapped in two.
Luckily, she was still able to remove the key part from the ignition!
So, she's using the replacement key that I bought a while back. I went to our mechanic and had them place an order for a plain key, without the remote.
That's gonna be way cheaper, and since it's just a backup key, it doesn't matter if it has a remote built in.
Also, I'm going to keep the broken key around because the remote part does still work and that means it can be useful if Zoe locks her keys in her car.
(In case you were wondering: you cannot just go to Home Depot and have a replacement key cut for a key style like this. I have explored that option before!)
-free lunch at work
-corrected a huge mistake on my daughter's tax forms which could have gotten her in trouble (teenagers are fun!)
-took bus in and out of downtown instead of doing expensive parking or taxi
-actually remembered my re-usable bags several times lately when shopping
-did my main grocery shop on the store's extra bonus day
@Sk in Norway, what is a store bonus day?
I'm glad you were able to navigate the key situation! They can be tricky to find, depending on the car in question. In the unfortunate event that there is a "next time," you might also try a locksmith. My husband's '92 Park Avenue is '92 fancy, with a VATS resistor key for the ignition. The key has a nubbin of metal on the flange that completes a circuit when put in the ignition. While a security feature back in the day, it's a pain when the keys start to where out or are lost over time. His car came with only one key that NO hardware store in town had; the guy at Autozone suggested a local locksmith. The locksmith had three VATS key blanks with the right resistor, and I bought them all ($20 each) to avoid having to do so again. The door key is thankfully just a plain old key!
FFT, Gardening Edition
--I PLANTED ALL OUR TULIPS! The caps are necessary because someone *cough cough* went a liiiiittle crazy buying clearance tulips last winter, like 100 bulbs crazy. $4.99 for 25 tulips is great until the realization hits that they need planted. 😛 Combined with last spring's planting spree (for the same reasons--apparently I don't learn), we've 200+ tulips in the front yard. My evil plan is to gradually fill the whole thing with flowers to avoid mowing, barring a strip of honorary lawn by the sidewalk.
--I planted heirloom wildflower seeds bought 50% off combined with free poppy seeds and free marigold seeds gifted by friends. I double-planted them over the tulip beds so that there will be a floral changing of the guards--the tulips will fade just as everything else comes up.
--The flower beds were marked with 30 ft of ornate black heavy metal fencing bought at Habitat Restore for $5 this winter. I love that place.
—The many, MANY flowers that a dear friend transplanted from her yard to ours last spring all seem to have made it through errant mowers and a harsh winter. All of her plants have bamboo markers for now, which will be upgraded to actual red flags when it’s time to mow. Free and sentimental irises and day lilies, ahoy!
—We had a good rain, so all my seeds, etc. got a good soak AND our new rain barrel system is working like a charm! It works so well that I may even add a few extra vegetable planters to ensure we go through water fast enough. One is supposed to cycle through all held water in a week to prevent stagnation/funk/eeeeew.
https://www.almanac.com/using-rain-barrels-water-garden
@N, When the keys WEAR out. Foiled by autocorrect again!
@N, I am positively green with envy over your tulips and the overplanting with the wildflower seeds! Tulips don't work here, and most of the seeds I sow tend to just disintegrate inexplicably. . . Wish we could see some photos of your planting efforts once in bloom.
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, We'll see if I can beat our resident squirrel to the blossoms! The little #(#@@ went straight for all the specialty colors last year but left the Ace clearance tulips alone.
@N, Your yard sounds incredibly beautiful. Wish I could see it in full bloom over the seasons. Like you, I really, really want to reduce the area I have to mow.
Today's car keys are an expensive pain, whether they're fobs or standard keys, aren't they?
Now, FFT, Indiana Jones Edition (updated as usual from yesterday at the NCA):
(1) Not frugal for me personally, but certainly frugal for my next-door neighbor (NDN) with the cognitive issues: Her other close friend (CF) and I *finally* found most if not all of her 1099s, after spelunking for several days through the massive piles of mail in her living and dining rooms. (Between CF and me, I started calling this hunt “Indiana Jones and the Search for the Missing Tax Paperwork.”) I dropped these off Monday morning at the office of NDN’s longtime accountant, who (a) was a tremendous help in telling us what to look for, and (b) says he’ll take everything (including getting duplicates of the few forms we couldn’t find) from here. Phew!
(2) As I may or may not have noted earlier, my own taxes have long since been done. I’m not getting any refunds, but I don’t owe the Feds or the state anything either. Fine with me. (This is, of course, the last year of my filing jointly for myself and DH, and I’m a bit apprehensive about what I can expect in the future as a single filer.)
(3) Indulging my inner Indiana Jones, I treated myself to some Monday morning thrifting on the way home from the paperwork dropoff. At my newest thrift shop (the one in the disused bowling alley that’s run in aid of a church food pantry), highlights included the following: (a) an absolutely lovely old Corning Ware 13x9x2 casserole dish (a bit high at $20, but it isn’t selling online for less than $35); and (b) the book Madly, Deeply–a collection of excerpts from the late Alan Rickman’s diaries–for 50 cents. Be still, my beating heart. And RIP once again to the best Sheriff of Nottingham, Colonel Brandon, and Severus Snape ever.
(4) Then on to the Salvation Army, where highlights included a one-of-a-kind basket with a deer antler for a handle, for $10. I can’t decide whether to keep this, give it to the equally deer-plagued Bestest Neighbors, or peddle it to my young friend with the secondhand-housewares shop!
(5) I’ve done well in the kitchen for the last couple of days, too: I’ve made a mulligatawny soup with brown lentils (approved by the BNs, NDN, and two other friends); a loaf of bread machine bread with potato flakes (denser and more satisfying than the regular bread machine white); and a sheet pan of chicken drumsticks with sweet potatoes. I feel I've redeemed myself after last week's debacle with the disgusting soup mix.
@A. Marie, I saw Rickman play Elyot in Noel Coward's Private Lives on Broadway, which apparently ran in 2002. Jeesh, that was a long time ago. I love that play. And Rickman.
@A. Marie, You are a good friend. Paper spelunking is the worst.
@Rose,
I saw him in Seminar (2011-ish). I am so grateful I got to see him before he passed.
@A. Marie,
If you happen to remember after you read it, I'd be interested to hear what you think of the Rickman book. Its been on my to-read list since it came out.
@A. Marie,
You or your accountant may want to create a preforms tax return for a single filer for planning purposes only. It may help to alleviate future concerns and prepare you for next tax season. Of course, during a the course of a year much can happen, and everything could be totally different in 2025. BTW, I would love to see that basket.
@A. Marie,
Wondering if you can share the recipe for the "potato flake bread"? I have potato flakes that I need to use up - not sure why I bought them in the first place - AND my bread machine needs to start earning its keep. Thanks!
@Bee,
That's brilliant advice. I was wondering if you could do a "mock return" to see if you (A. Marie, in this case) might need to change things (to avoid having to pay next year).
@A. Marie,
Oooo, I have my mom's blue cornflower 13 x 9! I love it. What's the pattern on yours? I had no idea they were going for that much.
@JD, it's also blue cornflower. But, as I think I've mentioned previously, Corning Ware is "hot" on eBay and Etsy all of a sudden. Whoever priced it at the church pantry thrift shop apparently knew this--and, hey, it was for a good cause.
@Bee and @LizB, I agree that doing a "dry run" on next year's taxes seems like an excellent idea. I'll talk to my tax preparer about this.
@Liz B., here's the recipe from my bread machine's recipe book:
1 1/4 cups water (at 80 degrees F or thereabouts)
3 tablespoons oil
2 teaspoons salt
3 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons dry milk
1/4 cup instant potato flakes [I'm using Bob's Red Mill flakes, bought at Ollie's some time ago)
4 cups bread flour
2 teaspoons active dry yeast
Run it on your bread machine's white bread cycle.
@A. Marie, #1 Makes you such a great friend/neighbor. 🙂
@A. Marie,
Thanks so much! Will give it a try!
We keep an extra of every kids (3) car hanging on a magnet in our safe. came in handy last week when the girl went to defrost her car before heading to college and could not locate them ANYWHERE.. Got her car cleared off and able to get to class on time and eventually thanks to dad's video cams able to determine they did make into the house.. and we managed to find them!!
1. cooking from scratch, eating meals at home when I wanted to go out and be lazy instead
2.scanning every receipt into fetch! You never know where the bonus points will come from!
3. we received a pleasantly sized tax return thanks to college tax credits X3 this year.. brought CC up to $0 balance and paid off the husband heart procedure bill(payment plan) I officially own him again! Dumped the rest into savings to grow and go to better, more enjoyable uses!
4. Used my LaneBryant *store bonus dollars* (Man that store has gone UP in prices* to save $25/$50 on cool things like a single pair of underwear and 2 packs of socks. (the girl and I have absurdly long feet and the plus sized socks fit so much nicer!) usually I pick store pick up but the shipping deal on Sunday was $.17!!!! So they can bring it to me this time! lol
5.I had seen a receipe on Facebook for pistachio bread and it called for 2 boxes of pistachio pudding mix and a box of yellow cake. I saved it and within a day or two I was at the local salvage grocery and in the baking section I found exactly those, within expiration and a fraction of store cost. Whipped that up on Friday while cleaning the house and the people were THRILLED with my Leprechaun bread.. Sure.. call it what you want.. But they devoured it all in less than 2 days..
@jes,
Yay for "owning" your hubby again! Lol!
@jes, when I worked at the animal clinic, one client brought us pistachio bread every Christmas! It was delicious, and we looked forward to it every year.
Yeah, the thing with having to buy an electronic key like that from a dealer is such a rip off. It was so much easier (and cheaper) when hardware stores could just copy keys for like three dollars. But enough of my old lady crabbing . . .
Frugal things:
--The fish heads made a very nice stock for chowder, and are now out of my freezer.
--The rooster feeet made a very nice stock that I haven't used yet, but now instead of a bag of gnarly chicken feet in my freezer, I have a gallon of ready-to-use stock.
--I had promised my daughter a tea party with scones, but we were out of jam. My husband forgot to get it at the store, and scones without jam are a no-go. I did have the last of a bag of frozen strawberries in the freezer, though, so with that, sugar, and bottled lemon juice, I made jam. It was, of course, much better than store-bought and I discovered it is also about half the cost. So now I guess I'll be making our strawberry jam.
--I spent about half an hour on Sunday going through the return process for several things and packaging up to send them back. I put this kind of thing off because I dislike it so much, but I'm getting refunded around $100, so it was worth it. And I managed to get the shipping back to be free. We don't have a UPS store for drop-off anywhere near, and scheduling the pick-up is $6 now, but I can choose the UPS store drop-off option to get the free return label and then leave things on the counter of our school's front office for the UPS guy to pick them up there.
--Your first one reminded me . . . I have a bag in the freezer for bread heels to save until I have the food processor out for something else, and then I make bread crumbs. I freeze the bread crumbs again and use them in things like the meatballs I made a couple of days ago, or meatloaf, tuna patties, etc. With all the work I put into our bread, I am certainly not going to throw any piece of it away.
@kristin @ going country, there is more tech in the new fobs but I feel the number one driving force of that was to force it back to the Stealerships who have lost much of their business to local mechanics.
@Battra92, Agreed! There's no reason - other than anti-car theft security - not to have a key that the hardware store can copy. I almost never use my fob cuz I don't want to pay $100 for what is essentially a dead battery.
@Battra92, "Stealership", indeed! I'm adopting that excellent word. Thank you!
@WilliamB, I don’t think my Jeep will start w/out the fob. There’s no place on the steering column to insert a key? Am I being dumb? I currently have a non-functioning fob & do not want to go to the Stealership (I love that!!)
@WilliamB, On the other hand, if you have a Honda, the Rolling PWN hack can unlock your doors or even start your car with ease. It's a serious bug in Hondas but Honda won't even acknowledge it. The bad guy can intercept the codes sent between he key and the car and then use them to unlock or start the car.
@Diane, You're not being dumb at all. You have a different set up - fully electronic. Battra and I are talking about cars with old-fashioned metal keys.
@Diane,
My car is like that, too. The fob has to be within a certain area close to the starter button for the car to start. Look at me, using technical terms, "starter button". lol. 🙂
@Liz B., The fob uses a short range RFID transmitter to communicate with the car.
@Rose,
Thanks for that explanation. Luddite that I am, I'm constantly amazed at all the bells and whistles my car has.
@Battra92,
Stealerships -- love that term! Sadly, it is very true.
@Rose, our Honda started on its own recently when I was standing beside it -- it's terrifying!
The original key for my 2006 civic did that exact thing!!! Looking at it it looks like a not so great design. Luckily the replacement seems more sturdy and I treat it like gold!!
@Plaidkaren, both of my 2010 civic keys also did the same thing. My mechanic said yes, it’s a model-wide problem. Such a bummer!
1. My husband needed new work boots, and the store we visited didn't have his size in stock. I was able to go online and order them with a 15% off code for submitting my email address, and free shipping. We also gratefully had free babysitting from my in laws.
2. Had a lot of driving to do last week, but we were able to use our small Corolla for most of it, which gets MUCH better gas mileage than our larger SUV (we only use the SUV when the whole family is going somewhere)
3. Shopped at a local, twice a year consignment sale, and found a good bit of what I needed to fill in gaps for my kids summer wardrobes.
4. We bought a cow, a heifer, from a neighbor. He gave us a good price. It remains to be seen if this is frugal, but we are pretty sure it will pay off
5. When going through clothing prior to the consignment sale, I found some baseball pants and socks that my son had worn for a season several years ago, still in very good condition. Listed them on marketplace and sold them within a few days.
On Friday morning, we were getting so much done around the house before we started school, that my daughter said, "Wow, we're being really frugal today!" And I actually grabbed a notepad and wrote a few things down so I wouldn't forget.
-College son recently started shaving his facial hair (he previously sported what we fondly called his "dashing sideburns" plus a fun beard and mustache). So now he needs some shaving things at school. He asked us to send some things from home and wondered if we would order some things (he sent a link). When we followed the link, we found some expensive shaving soap that made a statement that homemade soap is the best, or something like that. Their product was made with beef tallow plus a few other ingredients. We talked him into letting us send him some of our homemade soap (from beef tallow) that we have in large amounts. We also have every single thing he wanted to order, so we'll be sending it along in a box with the other things we were going to send anyway.
-My husband and son fixed a cooler we like that had broken hinges. He said the hinges cost around $6. (And my 10yo learned a thing or two.)
-My husband and daughter filled a large rice bag with empty chicken feed bags and plastic grocery bags. Daughter sewed it shut, and now we have another kneeling pad for garden work.
-My husband and kids are (slowly) getting the old piano apart; the scrap metal will be turned in for $. Plus, it looks a little trashy in the yard (not that anybody can see it where it is).
-We bought ham and butter on sale-- and lots of it.
-We went to an art museum for free for a field trip. We enjoyed the exhibit about children's book illustrators so much! I should note that we didn't do anything special to gain free admission; our county's art museum is always free. (What was NOT free was the very delicious Mexican restaurant for 8 people afterward. I refuse to call this a frugal fail because I enjoyed the time with my husband and the kids SO much.)
-I sent the link to yesterday's post to my 2 sons who could use some scholarship money. What they do with the knowledge is up to them, but I am considering nagging as a possibility.
-The regulars: coffee at home, using the library, making bread, making yogurt, making buttermilk, making all the other meals, telling my daughter how to fix a snag in a sweater, finding things in the freezer that need to be eaten, eating leftovers, hanging some clothes out to dry (again, my kids did this for me since temps were a little too chilly for me that day).
@Jody S., If the old piano has ivory keys, you can sell them on eBay. I had to buy a few once because the tops of keys on our piano fell off, I put them aside to re-glue and of course the cleaning lady threw them out.
@Rose, Nope. Also no brass on the inside.
@Jody S., it hurts my heart to think of a piano being dismantled, but what else can you do?? I know of someone who turned one into a coffee bar.
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, Well, we considered trying to turn it into something, but it really wasn't an option. It was also unrepairable, and a better one came to us. It was hard for me, especially because my children put in so many hours at it. But it was made easier by a better-sounding piano (all the keys work!).
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, Many pianos are practically worthless these days, sadly. I see people trying to sell them on FB and think, "You'll be lucky if you can give it away."
@Rose,
I see pianos available for free on Marketplace and Next Door alllll the time. They usually don't move very quickly. I would liken them to getting a "free" stray cat, dog, or other animal: definitely NOT free.
@Liz B., I think I paid $1500 for ours at auction. And then $7500 to have it restrung. That said, it's a beautiful instrument and a Bechstein.
@Liz B., sadly, pianos are one of those items that have just “fallen out of favor” with younger people, along with china cabinets and hutches, and numerous other things. Generations change. Electric keyboards are lighter and portable; they’re not considered “furniture” like a piano is, so little room is needed for them.
@SandyH,
Sad but true. Years ago, my hubby wanted to get a piano "in case" our son wanted to learn to play, but it never happened. I'm kind of glad about that, because neither of us play, we don't have room for a piano, and son now plays the trumpet and drums.
@Rose, I had to give away the grand piano that my dad grew up with and then my sisters and I grew up with. People like those electric keyboards, which just don't feel or sound right to me.
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, I totally agree about electronic keyboards and can't (won't) listen to even recorded music using them. To me, it's like substituting a kazoo for a clarinet.
It's not easy even finding a church that uses a real piano. I don't play, but my husband does, and one of the aspects of modern life I find so distressing is that real pianos have fallen out of favor. We're relatively poor, and the only decent thing we own is a 1939 Steinway mahogany upright, which we took out a bank loan to buy in '75 ($1500). It seriously needs some restoration, but it's sound quality, beauty and my husband's talent have brought me much joy over the years.
We recently bought a newer model vehicle, and the key fobs on that run $350. Ugg I was able to get one from Batteries Plus for $220 so that felt like a good deal to me, but still!
FFT
1. I went to a women's clothing swap on Saturday and left with several jeans, tops and a pair of shoes. It was worth it as I really needed another pair of jeans but kind of crazy as there were 1000 women going through the clothes at once!
2. Went to Speedway gas station and got their $3.14 pi day pizzas on 3/14. They were actually very tasty!
3. Ordered Fetch and Ibotta rewards for a total of $40 gift cards at Kroger. Those apps don't add up quickly, but over time scanning the receipts does eventually earn something. I used to be more of an Aldi shopper before we really had to tighten our budget. Now I'm a Kroger shopper but only get the loss leader deals.
4. A free Chick-fil-A sandwich showed up in my app, so I went through the drive through and got that for one of my teens.
5. And we used to a few free food coupons from Culver's.
It's really nice to eat out without paying eating out prices. I think this week has had a bit too much junk food though. Good thing that's not every week.
@Maggie, re: Aldi's - I know! I'm shocked at how many of their items have absolutely doubled over the last couple of years. We still shop there, but very selectively. Just cereal, crackers, fake cheetos, dried cherries, mayo, ketchup, mustard, Bustelo and pasta. And occasionally a bit of produce.
I like how that broken key fob has the word PANIC on it. Kinda sums up what most would do if that broke.
This week is going to be a stretch for me but I will try.
1.) This is partly frugal and partly just a shoutout of a good product but after being really frustrated with my shower not being clean, I took the advice of a YouTube video I saw and got some Bar Keeper's Friend Soft cleanser and used it in conjunction the scrub brushes you can attach to your cordless drill. Well worth the $2.72 I paid for it!
2.) Listed more on eBay and sold a couple things. I'm not getting rich but I am decluttering and making a little money.
3.) Eating from the freezer mostly. Also resisting the urge to get take out is not easy when you aren't feeling so well.
4.) Using store brand medicines. I guess that counts. 😛 I am at the tail end of a bad cold and store brand Mucinex and/or Delsym have been helping me out a lot.
5.) Just resisting the urge to buy anything, really. Also working from home during the cold instead of taking sick time.
@Battra92,
I had the exact same thought about the key - PANIC!
@Battra92, Mix white vinegar with blue dawn dish detergent. (only use about 1/5 dawn to 4/5 vinegar) Put it in a spray bottle and use that to clean your shower. It is amazing stuff! I've been using it for cleaning my tub/shower/bathroom sink for over 10 years now, and I will never go back to store bought cleaning soaps.
@JC, me too! I found the recipe and instructions on Mary Hunt's website, Everyday Cheapskate. I spray it on in the evening, and rinse it off in the morning with very little scrubbing required (unless there is a very long time lapse between applications). She also has a recipe for something to spray daily after showering so that it stays clean.
@JC, After the massive Exxon Valdez oil spill here in Alaska, Dawn was the only detergent that would clean the oil off thousands of various sea animals without hurting them or destroying the water repellent qualities of furs for animals like otters. The company also donated a lot of detergent for the clean up. I have not used another liquid detergent since.
@Lindsey,
I remember the Exxon Valdez oil spill, and the use of Dawn to clean up the birds and other wildlife. Procter & Gamble is a Cincinnati-based company, and I use Dawn exclusively as well (because it's a superior product, in my opinion).
From little to big:
1. Replaced a broken button on my blanket bag (duvet cover) with a near-match from my button stash.
2. Resewed the 4 buttons on my wonderfully inexpensive new coat because the factory sewing was already fraying. I used extra-strong thread I had on hand which, fortuitously, was the color of the coat. I also used Katie's trick for making a shank, found in the comments in FG's "How to Sew a Button" post.
https://www.thefrugalgirl.com/how-to-sew-on-a-button/
3. Reused the crab-infused butter from leftover crab-and-shrimp boil from an evening out. There was a ton of butter in that dish and I'm using up every last savory scrap of it. Dipping shrimp in it is a no-brainer; I'm also using it on potatoes and on rice, and to cook eggs with.
4. Got more cast-off sewing machine bobbins from Freecycle. There's a lot of thread to be had from cast-off bobbins.
5. Made more free 2-sided color copies at the public library one county over. There's a daily limit but it's worth doing it a bit at a time, combining it with other errands. Color copying is like $1/page!
6. Discovered that my former insurance company made a $140 mistake by not giving me a full refund when I cancelled my policies. Learned the mistake was based on another mistake they made. These calls are aggravating as hell and phone trees suck, especially when you're no longer a customer. I resorted to using the Spanish-language option, telling the person - in English - the system didn't have the option I needed and I would be very grateful if he could transfer me to the correct department. He did.
7. Tax-Time Me is extraordinarily grateful to Past Me for keeping decent records of home improvements on the house I sold last year. That's going to reduce my taxable profit on the house to almost nothing.
PS: This is the sewing kit I have. I stumbled on it for sale for about $25 and found it wonderfully convenient.
https://www.amazon.com/Singer-Essentials-Storage-System-Pieces/dp/B000BQ7HUE?th=1
@WilliamB, Hmmm....she doesn't wrap the thread around the stitches afterward. That's how I was taught to sew on a button.
@Rose, I did do the wrap, I forgot that she didn't. Good catch!
That just happened to us, with the stupid key breaking. How tiresome.
As usual, can't think of much frugal going on around here. I bought lots of food to ensure we eat at home this week, that's something. I needed a new blazer or jacket for my job interview next week, so I bought a cheap one. I sent my mom some daffodils; that wasn't too expensive. I tried using cheap off brand Swiffer power mop pads: FAIL. They stink, which is too bad since the branded ones are expensive. That's all I can think of right now.
Was an expensive week for us as we had 30 people for St. Patrick's Day (in honor of the dearly departed as us Irish like to say). Anyway:
1. We did eat down a lot of the freezer before then to make room for leftovers.
2. We will be freezing leftovers today. Mostly potatoes and 1 chunk of corned beef. The potatoes are all chunked, so freezing individually will be great before they go into a bag.
3. Our friends brought pierogis (not very Irish, but oh so delicious!). Plenty of leftovers to be frozen as well.
4. People were bringing lots of refreshments, so we have plenty of that leftover too. Don't know what we will do with that, as there is enough for another whole party! But it will be cheaper for us to bring drinks to dinner when asked. And yes, my husband is trying to NOT drink, so there will be plenty to bring to others.
5. My sister works at a popular coffee place and each week, they get one 1 lb-bag of coffee as a bonus. I gave quite a few away, but we will be having coffee for a while too.
6. A lot of the decorations, utensils, and plates were all leftovers from previous years' parties. So we didn't buy decorations or plates. Cups are the ones we save from sporting events, so we don't buy cups either (and way too much garbage for that!).
1. Borrowed my husband's folding bike and drove to a bike access point halfway between us and the library, then biked to the post office and library from there. It seems silly, but it cuts out a bit of driving and saved a bit of gas and wear on the car, plus I got good exercise! And I learned how to unfold the bike, and DH ordered me my own bike for future errand biking adventures. We have grand plans, when it gets warmer, to start biking to the grocery store as well.
2. Library books (see above).
3. All meals and treats at home.
4. Saved a bunch of chicken bones and onion and carrot scraps, and started a batch of chicken bone broth in the crockpot this morning.
5. Pondered renting a movie on Amazon (Madame Web), but poked around and found a movie that was free with our subscription (The Core) and I think we enjoyed it more. Anybody else enjoy a good cheesy sci fi "disaster" movie?
@Karen A., I love disaster movies, the cheesier the better. The Poseidon Adventure! 2012! The Towering Inferno!
@Rose, The Poseidon Adventure! We discovered that one not too long ago, and my kids were beside themselves because we had recently watched the Superman movies with Christopher Reeve, so they kept yelling about Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman) being the hero and all. It was hilarious. And Ernest Borginine is always fun.
@Karen A., Count me in for cheesy disaster movies, sci-fi or not. I especially love airplane disaster movies. I have to say, though, that the Sharknado franchise bombed completely after the somewhat entertaining first one. I used to love horror movies, too, but in grad school I worked on death row at a penitentiary, and have not been able to watch a horror movie since. Meeting real life men who did some of those sorts of crimes changed me, in more ways than one. I was the first woman who worked in that part of the prison; I quit after less than a year.
@Lindsey, I love horror but I much prefer supernatural type stuff to just gory ones.
Good idea on keeping the clicker, especially if it still works. This week I am going to sloooowww down and spend more time doing some coccooning AKA staying at home, so that simple act always saves me a little money. I will also continue eating food out of my freezer until my big shop later in the week. Might do my taxes, as well, though I expect to owe this year due to capital gains. Might as well get it over with!
@Gina from The Cannary Family, If you owe, then maybe what to do is prep your taxes now and wait till Tax Day to pay it.
I had to replace the electronic key fob for my 2010 Honda Pilot and I paid over $150 for it from the dealer. Then for the next six months, it ate a battery a month where the original fob used 2 batteries in 12+ years. I took it back to the dealer and made them replace it since I felt it was faulty. Luckily the new one does not have the battery issue. I did have to fight with the dealership to replace it, but it was worth the effort.
Let see if I can come up with FFT:
1) Cooked meals from scratch.
2) Purchased gas at BJs when I was close by. They have the cheapest gas prices in my town.
3) Free lunch at work
4) The leg on DS's kitchen table broke and we salvaged the other legs to use in craft projects. The table held up for over 5 years - not bad for a $50 Facebook Marketplace purchase.
5) Canceled a streaming fitness service I've used for years because the renewal price doubled since last year.
I gave up chocolate for Lent and your post is trying my willpower!
Frugal things feel light this week. I managed not to go to the supermarket for a few days but that was because I was actually organised enough to get enough food for the week. I guess it prevents impulse buying.
1. A very rare frugal thing happened to me:
I found a dime on the ground. (Insert celebratory trumpet sounds)
Seriously, I never find cash on the ground anymore. So few people carry cash, I guess.
2. I ordered my cruelty-free contact lens solution with some other things and was able to use two promo codes to reduce my total order cost, plus I ordered enough stuff I actually needed to get free shipping.
3. I had leftover chicken, on the leftover carcass and leftover vegetables. Chicken pot pie, to the rescue. I made broth out of the carcass, to make the gravy for the pie. I guess I should have done that on pi day, but oh well.
4. I used the rest of the broth to make egg drop soup while the broth was still good and hot, so reheating to cook temperature time was minimal.
5. I have one leg higher than another, so hemming my slacks can be aggravating. I had a pair of slacks bought on clearance that were in the regular length, and I'm only 5'2". I really did not want to hem them, but I did, instead of rolling them up, which never works well or looks nice for me. I would have paid a lot more money to get the petite length, because they weren't on any kind of sale, or to get someone else to hem them. I feel very happy with myself now.
1. Got my oil changed at the car dealership and received a free car wash.
2. Bought an item at Joann and asked the salesperson if there were any coupons. She showed me how to access the website so she could scan the 50% off code. I don’t think I would have known to ask were it not for this blog. (Yesterday, I saw that Joann filed for Chapter 11, so there will be some reorganizing of the business. I'm glad my $2 off didn't play a significant role!)
3. Used a coupon from the mail for ordering new checks. I use checks mostly at local businesses to save them the credit card fees.
4. Received our first water/sewer bill at our new house. For the last 20+ years, we’ve lived out in the country and had our own well and septic system. Now we have a baseline from which to improve (reduce) our water usage.
5. My old straw-like garden hat was very dirty, and I couldn’t get the stains out. As a last resort, I put it in a mesh laundry bag and washed it with a regular load and then air dried it. It came out great!
@MB in MN, I also used that coupon at JoAnn's this week!
@MB in MN, I do the same thing about check writing. Local businesses appreciate skipping the credit card fees.
1. I submitted my physio receipt to my insurance the same day as the appointment and they paid the next day! That reminds me that I have to send the remainder to Mr. B to send to his insurance.
2. We had friends over for dinner on the weekend, and kept it pretty low-cost. For dessert, I found an ancient bag of ground hazelnuts in the freezer, and since they were still good, I tried them in my chocolate amaretti recipe. It worked well--they tasted like Nutella.
3. Inspired by Kristen, I checked out the awards that I can get through my university program. I thought that most were just accolades, but they're financial prizes! I've earmarked one essay competition for this year, and then several that I'll qualify for next year.
4. I made sure to enter my call shifts correctly so that I get paid the proper amount, on time 🙂
5. I found a ripped cotton sheet that previous-me had obviously kept for the fabric, so I used some yesterday to cut out a test-version of a dress bodice pattern.
Vehicle keys are just a pain. Finally got out second key for Toyota from them after owning vehicle for a year.
Frugal, maybe:
Bought gas at Buck-ee's who has the cheapest gas between our NWA & NEMO home.
Eating out of our freezer plus cleaning out in NEMO home.
Got husband with PD a second pair of Kizik shoes at $50 off. He doesn't go out much but nice to have more than one pair of shoes.
Going back to City Office to get $1K credit from level pay utilities used plus drop our monthly payment.
Trying to make semi-frugal decisions on our shouse build in NWA.
@Jennifer G, NWA and NEMO?
Straight Outta Compton? Jules Verne?
@Rose, Northwest Arkansas, perhaps?
NEMO might be North East Missouri.
We have brownies and oatmeal cookies so we don't need yet another dessert right now but I have some milk that needs using up over the weekend. Chocolate pudding might just be the thing to use it up.
1) I got discounted tickets to a show in town last Friday.
2) Got a discount from a couple vendors at the farmers market for volunteering
3) Picked up a half off whole chicken, cooked last night making broth and will run it today to make stock
4) Wanted to use wood to make a stand for our grow light. Decided to go w/ PVC pipe instead. While it doesn't look as nice in the living room, it was cheaper and its only temporary
5) Borrowed a folding table from my dad to put the seedlings on...instead of buying one, which will then also have to be stored.
I had an issue with my key a few months ago. The key to my car looks like a thumb drive and goes into a port on the dashboard of my car. This piece had worn out over time and would not work properly any longer. My son had lost my spare that had come with the car. I nearly croaked when the mechanic told me that the replacement cost was over $400. This included the cost of the actual key and then the programming cost. Although I could find a spare key for slightly less, I still would have to have it programmed. The auto manufacturers zealously guard the software, so I was stuck. It is really hard for a frugal person to pay $400 for a car key. If I ever buy another car, which I may, I will guard my keys carefully.
I have a bit more time on my hands these days, so I'm trying to use it wisely.
1) Listed a bunch of stuff on eBay & BN. While BN isn't frugal necessarily for me, I love a decluttered house, and it's frugal for someone else.
2) Continued to use a Safeway gift card to pick up a few odds & ends for dinners.
3) My pantry is officially in great shape! Made yakisoba to use up a very old Top Ramen package, and lasagna to use up the last of a package of noodles my parents bought last time they were in town. Bonus that I served the lasagna with bread from the freezer. This is the first time the pantry has been in great shape in ... forever. Woohoo!
4) Planning a trip to Sedona with my mom, and wanted to keep it very inexpensive:
-Used three free hotel nights that were expiring (paying just for one)
-Used frequent flyer miles for my mom's flight
-Used a spring break sale & a gift card to buy my flight
-Had DH help me find a very reasonable rental car
-Treating this as my mom's Mother's Day gift, because we always prioritize experiences over things
5) Inspired by yesterday's post, helped DS18 apply for a few scholarships
You reminded me that I have chicken frames that need to be turned into broth, also.
I used part of an old sheet to make a blouse from a free pattern as a wearable toile. It turned out very nice.
I made sandwich bread, granola, and salad dressing from stuff I had on hand.
My husband repurposed some old boards to make a deck in front of where we park the camper -- this will greatly decrease the amount of mud tracked in when loading/unloading.
I decided that my patched jeans, while fine for wearing around the house, were too far gone to be presentable in public. I used Amazon's try-before-you-buy to order three pair. Two pair actually fit perfectly, which astonished me. (I purchased the sizes suggested by Amazon, all petite.) Sending back the third pair was easy. All I had to do was drop them by the local UPS store -- I didn't even have to box them up. This saved me tons of time over going the store and trying on multiple pairs.
I sewed a bag for my yoga mat using fabric scraps.
@Cindi, If you think patched jeans can't be seen in public, you must live in a classier place than I do. Last summer I saw someone at the grocery store who was wearing a shirt and underpants only, not shorts but real underpants.
@Lindsey,
Well, that's pretty darn casual, I must say.
I personally don't like the jeans so full of rips that all I can see is skin. But at least they aren't actual underwear.
@Lindsey, LOL -- well, I would probably wear them to the grocery store, but not out to eat or to church. (I live in the west -- we're very casual. I'm just not ready to wear jeans out that have a big patch across the backside!)
@Lindsey, maybe that store needs to put up a new sign: "No Shoes, No Pants, No Service."
@JD, In the high school where I substitute teach, it is high fashion for the girls to wear ripped and torn jeans. But instead of wearing an old pair that has holes in it, they go buy new jeans that have been torn up (by the manufacturer) to look fashionable. Usually they get them at the expensive dept. stores. Definitely not frugal, as these jeans are expensive. Go figure!
Let's see.....
1. The hubby needed new work shoes and we used a 25% reward towards that purchase which saved quite a bit buying 4 pair of shoes.
2. We received a gift card to a local BBQ spot and used it to cover dinner earlier this week.
3. Cooked 3 meals at home. This is really slack compared to all the cooking I usually do but considering I am working full time and managing a large insurance claim repair in my home, I am calling that a win. Clue...the crockpot was heavily involved.
4. Called Dish to have them suspend my service so I am not billed for the months we have been out of our home and not able to use the service.
5. Thank God my brother in law will take on the renovation in our home in terms of the physical work since the GC quit on the day he was to begin. That alone will save us thousands of dollars.
@Angie, What happened with the crock pot?
Beginning to feel like a different person since the crud is leaving my sinuses and chest. It is chilly here, but supposed to warm up today and looking forward to working outside. A nice frugal thing by our community is spring and fall limb/branch pickup. It will be the first week of April and I need to get my new baby chain saw and pull wagon out and get busy.
1) Bought nice looking pansies and violas for $1.74 each little grow pack. Bought a 12 pack as they are my favorite starter color pot porch planting. There are two plants in each.
2) Spotted an old chair out for garbage pick up. Picked it up to put on the porch for holding one of said flower pots. It is time to move the broken little red wagon to another part of the yard.
3) Got one of the on sale corned beef roasts at Aldi last week. Kinda not frugal with all of the beef in the freezer, but at least I didn't overcook this one in the slow cooker. Will be good for sandwiches. Aldi actually had rye swirl bread, too. However, I don't know what I was thinking as I did not get any saurkraut or swiss cheese.
4) Got my free birthday donut at Casey's when I got gas prior to going out of town to the Dr. Was on a day that I had worked the night before, so was pretty tired and did not eat out or shop, drove straight there and back.
5) Collected Hy-Vee saver perks for gas when getting scripts filled. Four scripts @$.05 each=$.20 per gallon of gas. Pretty good for $3.20 per gal gas.
We used to own a 2003 civic, and we also only got one key when we bought it. The dealer at the time was able to create a duplicate electric key for only $30 (they said it was a gamble and it might have ended up being the $100+ version, so I was real happy!).
My niece now drives that civic. It's older than she is, random parts don't work (like the radio, the AC, and the rear windows don't go up/down), but it still stops and goes and stops again!
Most of this past week’s frugality has been very small: eating lunch at home every day despite temptation, and making coffee and oatmeal at home every morning for breakfast.
But I do have to mention a truly big frugal win for which we have our mechanic to thank. The air conditioning suddenly went out in our 2018 civic. It is not possible to have a car without air-conditioning where I live. So I took it to our independent mechanic, who looked at it, and then called to tell us that there was a leak that would cost about $1600 to fix but he thought there was an extended warranty from the dealer on this because it was a known issue. So we should take the car to the dealer.
The next day I did take the car to the dealer, it was covered under a manufacturers warranty, and the air conditioner was fixed for free! Of course, they also gave me a list of several other very expensive fixes that they made sound like an emergency. I politely declined all of those, but printed out the list to take back to our mechanic for future reference.
The day after getting the car back from the dealer, I baked chocolate chip cookies and took them to our independent mechanic as a thank-you. They could have just told us it would be an expensive repair and we would have sucked it up and paid for it. But they were honest and we benefited to the tune of $1600.
@Meg in SoTX, so happy for you. That is a major savings!
@Meg in SoTX, There must be some thing about independent mechanics and chocolate chip cookies, because I baked some for our mechanic this week, too! Or maybe it's Texas. We're NW of Ft. Worth.
1. Used fish line from a tangled up fishing tackle to hang up my spring wreath. (To think I had considered buying some fish line new!)
2. Made smoothies from a fruit tray that was leftover from a party we hosted. Was able to hide the insipid pineapple chunks there!
3. Our young teenagers are using debit cards for the first time. Helped my son get a refund from a Door Dash order gone wrong and another online purchase that never shipped. They need to calm down on the online ordering!
4. Shopped at an estate sale and bought a sturdy basket to replace an old one that holds my exercise equipment and has collapsed at the weight. Also purchased plant baskets for indoor plants, so I don't have to buy expensive new flower pots.
5. Shopped at JoAnn's for party candles, shoe and craft glue, and remembered to look up an online 50% off coupon before paying for the full price item.
@Kristina M., I like your #1.
This is gathered from 2-3 weeks:
1. More plants on a gift card from the best nursery around (because I was passing by—not a special trip)
2. Two weeks in a row, I shopped at Aldi because I was passing by.
3. Instead of lunch out on this Big Town trips, I bought cheese and a cuke for lunch from Aldi’s, sliced the cuke with the knife in my purse and had a parking lot picnic, party of one.
4. Our local food pantry gave away frozen shrimp!!
5. For the first time in decades, we are getting a refund from the IRS because I had the worst year ever (there’s an odd reason for rejoicing!)
Newer keys are expensive! I needed to get another key for my vehicle & it was around that same price, but needed to be programmed & no remote. 🙁
Frugal things---
● love Gas Buddy app! gas has consistently gone up over last 3 weeks. $3.29--$3.39--$3.59--now $3.75
● had dentist look at teen throat during cleaning & confirmed what I suspected & made calls to make appointments (dentist gave referral, so no additional in between needed)
● used my Hallmark coupons to get pop up Easter cards & free card then mailed (got 2 free cards out of 4)
● talked with neighbor & asked if I could buy cement blocks (piled in corner not using) & offered sale price I paid when bought some past year at Lowes. Neighbor offered half price of the sale amount. 🙂 Now have enough for another raised garden bed
● getting ready to transplant sprouted potaoes into garden bed (after warms up) & looking to buy blueberry bushes to plant. Prices of groceries are insanely high & most likely will continue as green energy (solar panels) spread far & wide where farmers fields used to grow food.
●cooked spiral ham (bought half off after Christmas) & portioned into individual servings (put in freezer) for sandwiches & breakfasts
Frugal fail??
● called Culligan (again) because $5000 water softener (still) leaking water on basement (cement) floor. Sending (another) person to look at. Cement Floor starting to crack because of salt water. 🙁 Never had this problem with (same) last water softener.
@Regina, we are very happy with a Life Source water machine. It is maintenance free, uses no salt, removes the chlorine, and cost a fortune, but worth every dollar.
1) We didn't make it to the grocery store yesterday because life, so my husband and I made the grocery list last night, and I inputed it for pickup this morning. In the meantime, we have scrounged enough stuff to eat until my husband picks it up today. Consequently, I didn't think there was a grocery experience on earth faster than a quick run over to Aldi. Then we tried Aldi pickup. It costs $2 plus the cost of bags, and it is worth every penny in time saved. It also removed a small source of friction--when my husband grocery shops, it takes him for-ev-er, which drives me crazy. Pickup takes us both the same amount of time.
2) I booked our tickets to Mexico City. I had a $600 ecredit from Delta that was going to expire this month. And I had $300 in travel credit on my credit card and a bunch of miles. I've been making child care arrangements and researching locations for weeks. (I didn't want to waste the $600 credit on a $100 flight, or put it toward a $1500 flight that would still feel like I was buying an expensive flight). Mexico City is about a $600 flight from us. So I booked the tickets Sunday because prices were as cheap as I have seen them. In total we spent $275 for two tickets to Mexico City. Now I am working on a home exchange while we are there. I'm determined to make this trip as inexpensive as possible.
3) First thing I did yesterday after sitting down at my desk was to go through all the money to-do items I had. I submitted my weekend conference travel for reimbursement. I checked our health insurance claims to see if I should expect any new bills this week. I updated our budget. I did a quick online course that gives me a "wellness" bonus through my employer. I put in a call to the hospital billing department to request a refund I am due.
4) Yesterday I went for an appointment with my plastic surgeon. (I'm in treatment for breast cancer, not planning my next BBL LOL.) She said I needed a better bra situation. I have been wearing old bralettes I had that are similar to sports bras. I need smooth compression after my mastectomy. So I went to Dicks and bought a couple of compression shirts, and immediately brought them back to my surgeon to look at. We chose one that was comfortable and seemed to compress me in all the right spots. My next stop was to return the tops I wasn't going to keep.
5) Our daughter uses an old dresser that has a secretary in it. It is a nice piece, but that stupid secretary desk will flop down and hit you on the head if you aren't careful. My brilliant husband had the idea to install a magnet latch on it like the one on the kids' kitchen set. I found a pack of these latches on Amazon for $8. They came yesterday, and he put one on. It works like a dream! If only we had thought of it ages ago. I love a cheap, efficient solution.
@Amanda in VA, best wishes for your treatments and surgery. As a fellow b.c. survivor, may I suggest that you may want at least two shirts? You have to have constant compression for quite a while. Between sweating extra from the anesthesia and drains ( if you have to have them) having one to wear while the other washes and air dry can be very helpful. ❤️
Kristen, I recently had my mechanic remove the car alarm from my '96 Accord. It was just one more thing that might break, drain the battery, or go wonky and not shut off. I had dropped the clicker so many times through the years that it was held together with electricians tape and a zip-tie. Now I have 2 simple keys, and one stays in my wallet in case of a lock-out situation. I dread the day that I replace my car and can no longer find a simple key (and a stick-shift).
I actually disagree about crockpot heat. I find it produces quite a bit, so in the summer, I set mine up in the garage.
My husband and I are old, bordering on ancient and are pretty tired of driving to different stores to price small things, so we order a lot of our small needs from Amazon. Things that don't work out are easily returned to our local Kohl's store which is only about three miles away. One simply has to carefully print out a "magic" return ticket first. Now, this can also be done on your phone but I have a missing lobe in my brain for that sort of technology. No apps on my phone, it's used only for phone calls.
Recently I ordered an inexpensive iron but it was damaged a bit in the delivery. No problem, I thought, just return it. I tried and tried to print out the mandated return slip but could not call up the needed info. I was so upset I considered just swallowing the $17 cost of the iron. Husband took over just before I was going to throw the laptop out the window. Now, he is no app-using genius so he called Amazon to ask how to do this and was told that in this case, the iron would have to be mailed back by us, no reason given for its "special" status. Thanks to hubby's patience, $17 saved.
It won't fund that cruise to Norway, but it's a start.
1. We took advantage of free roller skating at the YMCA this weekend. We are also signed up to attend Lego League, a party with inflatables, and Foam Dart League at the YMCA this month. We do pay for the membership, but these fun events for our kids on top of having the gym/pool really make the YMCA membership frugal.
2. I signed my kids up for a free event at the library for their Spring Break. I am hoping to get tickets to an egg hunt over their break, which is only $5 per kid. We are also planning to take advantage of our local park's conservatory, go to a bird sanctuary, and go to a local farm, all of which will cost about $10 total.
3. I used some pureed pumpkin I had frozen to make a vegetarian pumpkin chili, which turned out great.
4. I picked up some barely used Vans sneakers off Buy Nothing
5. I paid for my Lactation Counselor license renewal early, which saved me about $30
1. I take Viagra every day for its original purpose, which is as a vasodilator for my lungs. It costs $498 for a 90 day supply and I will likely be on it for the rest of my life. The insurance company AGAIN refused to pay for it. They keep saying Viagra is a "lifestyle" drug, not a medical necessity. This week they finally caved, after multiple letters from my cardiologist, and paid for this round of drugs and reimbursed me for the past times they refused to pay. We will see if they remember this next time because I have fought and won once before, but they apparently have short memories.
2. Husband loves cinnamon bread. It is $10.50 locally so I finally made a loaf for less than a fourth of that price. Not sure why I waited so long.
3. Over the years I have accumulated multiples of medical hardware, like crutches, walkers, a manual wheelchair, a shower chair, and toilet risers. I finally gathered it all up and took it to a non-profit that provides medical equipment to folks with no or useless insurance. No financial gain for me (wait, I did get a tax receipt, so some financial gain) but less clutter and it warms my heart to think that someone ill won't have to pay for those items.
4. Started some seeds for transplanting on June 1 (the traditional transplant day here because we rarely have had frosts after that date). Leeks and onions mostly, since they take a long time to reach a good transplant size.
5. Sold a few items on eBay. Not a lot of cash, but it all adds up.
I am a HUGE fan of toaster oven baking. Since I live in SE Texas, it's hot for about...11.5 months of the year, and turning on the oven is just a big, fat, no. I've cooked everything from asparagus to ziti in there. Ironically, the only thing it doesn't cook super well is toast... It's a life saver.
@profesorahb, If you have a sandwich toaster or indoor grill, they make a quick and easy way to cook vegetables. They're slightly steamed and slightly charred at the same time and really delicious. I use it for broccoli, asparagus, etc.
My husband's Kia key fob housing broke after 10 years. He found out he could get a silicone cover for the extra key, to help preserve it's lifespan. In addition, he was able to buy a generic fob and have the Kia technicians program it, which saved more than $100.
Some hardware stores and stores that specialize in things like batteries will sell and program a key fob for less than car dealerships, where they can run $200 to $300.
@Jan, Thanks for the info about Kia techs programming generic keys! I bought a used Kia and that knowledge may come in handy for me some day.
When I'm in a hurry to cook potatoes of any kind, I pop them in the microwave for about 5 minutes while the toaster oven heats up, then finish them in the oven. It cuts the cooking time in half, which in turn saves more energy! I also use my instant pot on my back porch in the summer, because I want to keep ALL the heat out of my kitchen. Works great!
I got a surprise check from the IRS for $260. I paid my taxes last month, but I guess I overpaid a bit...it's money I already spent, but money I wasn't expecting back...I'm gonna call it a win!
I found some pullover polo shirts for my husband that were new at goodwill. They'll be great for work.
My husband and I dug a tree trunk out of the backyard and hacked it up with an ax...treated the remaining bit with some stump rot. The $8 stump rot and an hour of hard work was much cheaper than the quote the tree service gave us for stump griding (real issue was they couldn't get into the backyard through the gate...so no choice).
Asparagus was on sale for $1.25/lb....I bought a lot. Blanched and froze it. DH loves the stuff.
My mom gave me a couple gallon size bags of blueberries from her freezer. I made jam with them.
My son got a replacement key for his old Civic at our local hardware store, which just started having some modern keys like that.
1. I called the company that purported to have fixed my watch (got it back $79 poorer and still broken) and received a free mailing label and a cost-waived repair.
2. My son is sick with seasonal allergies and got take-out Chinese food for his cough and stuffy head. He does not eat plain rice, which is generously included with every order, so I froze the big bowl of it for the next time I cook a meat and rice kibble topper for the dogs.
3. Used a handful of store coupons, mostly for cat food and treats, to save another 10% off the shopping trip.
4. Potential savings: I started physical therapy again and managed to get the appointments moved from a facility in a high-crime/gang area to an office near my house. Worth it in less anxiety, for sure.
5. Did some mending on my bath robe and some pajama pants. Bought some lightweight plain summer socks at Dollar Tree (the socks hold up surprisingly well). Appreciated the $25 senior discount our vet gave on my older dog's annual check up.
1. Found a coupon for a free kiddie meal at a burger joint. No purchase necessary. That was my supper tonight.
2. Finally solved my problem about new flooring in the hallway. Walmart has some area rugs on clearance, $29 instead of $44. I love the pattern and the colors blend with my wall paint. It will be a granny chic/grand millennial style and look very different (in a good way, IMO). Brought one home; yes, it fits. Bought enough to cover the length of the hall. Will hire the retired carpet fitter, who has done some work for me, to install it like a real wall-to-wall carpet. The label on the rugs recommends using carpet padding underneath; luckily, I'd kept the nice thick carpet pad in the hall when we took up the messed-up carpet, and it will work just fine.
3. Located the package of drapery pins so we were able to hang the last of the draperies in the living room/dining room area. Got them all dry cleaned and they look as good as new.
4. Friday, I left my brown-bag lunch on the kitchen table and wondered what I was going to do, as I was subbing in another elementary school that's not nearby any fast food joint. I lucked out because the PTA was serving baked potato meals to the teachers and I was invited to partake. My lunch of barbecue on top of a baked potato the size of a large man's fist was both filling and free. And delicious!
5. Potted up some philodendron (aka regular house ivy) that I'd rooted in water from my big plant. Got 3 new plants from same. This didn't cost me anything as I already had the flower pots, potting soil, and ivy cuttings around the house. Put them on the kitchen window sill and -- surprise! -- when I pulled up the blinds to make room for the flower pots, I saw that several branches of the next-door neighbor's shrub roses had come through cracks in the wood fence. They are in full bloom. Beautiful view!
Kristen, I always 'bake' my sweet potatoes in the microwave, so I save on heating up the oven (and the house) every time. I've never been able to tell the difference between them and oven baked ones and they cook just the same as white potatoes (same setting). I always poke them several times with a fork, and rub them with olive oil before I put them in. Delicious!
Since the key fob is already broken, I wonder if you could use some super strong (gorilla maybe?) glue and glue the key part back onto the fob? If you could get it frozen in place then I'd wrap some heavy string around the top and on either side of the metal part, add some more glue, and give it a try. Couldn't hurt? might work!
Frugal Things:
1. picked up a free small upright freezer (maybe 7 cu. ft.) from Buy Nothing.
2. traded jigsaw puzzles with a friend and we both have new puzzles!
3. Got a $50 gift card to Olive Garden from Fetch after scanning many, many, MANY receipts.
4. Picked up a recent best seller at the Library (The Maid by Nora Prose) and have been thoroughly enjoying it.
1. After over two years of living in this house, I finally dug into my stash of miscellaneous light bulbs (most were given to me by my mom when she upgraded her CFLs to LEDs) and replaced a dismally dim light in our garage. Frugal? Maybe not, but at least good for my mental health as it was driving me crazy to not have decent light in there. I’m not sure why it took me so long to fix this!
2. We are gratefully accepting meals from friends via Meal Train to help us out after Baby #2 came a month ago.
3. I sliced some mushrooms I’d bought at a discount a week or more ago, before they went totally bad. They are now in the freezer for use in a soup or something similar where texture won’t be an issue.
4. I’ve slowly used up our checks- they are old enough to have an address from 8 years ago on them. We ordered and received new, free checks from our checking institution... now with our current/permanent address.
5. All the usual– coffee at home, cooking at home, hanging laundry to dry, trying to avoid food waste, etc. Oh and I’ve been opening the windows when it’s warmer to get the lovely fresh air inside.
1. Today was free cone day at DQ, so the kids and I got cones, my husband paid for a taco.
2. I updated our money tracker and snapped receipts for fetch rewards.
3. We had beans and rice. The beans were from the discount store and the rice was clearance. I served various toppings with it but decided not to serve cheese as we're getting low and that's a pricier topping. One of the toppings, cabbage, was from this week's sale.
4. I saved $6 by ordering a book off ebay instead of àmazon.
5. I went on a walk, free exercise. I used free my fitness pal to track it
-enjoying the flowers on the orchid my step-sister gave me for Christmas. It’s so gratifying that they keep their flowers for such a long time.
-used ingredients already in the pantry to make brownies for my son’s school party.
-gathering up spring/summer outdoor sporting goods to take to the consignment store.
-planning leftover/clean out the freezer meals for the rest of the week.
-washed and put away winter outdoor gear to take to the consignment store next fall.
Toaster ovens and heating things up comment... We don't have AC in our house in Colorado, so I often move my toaster oven outside to the back deck if I need to bake something small in the summer.
I call it my "summer kitchen" and avoid heating up the house.
With milk, I purchase a gallon & freeze it in quart containers.
I just realized that I posted this comment on your original post about pudding. I thought I would add it here too so that you might see it!
Thanks for the easy chocolate pudding recipe. I just made it for dessert tonight when I go to my daughter’s house. I bought a half gallon of milk for sausage gravy on Sunday, so I used the remainder to make a double batch of chocolate pudding. I’m sure that my little granddaughter will love it!
I used some older apples to make apple crisp and some somewhat mushy bananas to make banana bread.
We’re having salad for dinner every night this week to use up extra produce in the fridge.
I took advantage of some really good sales to purchase some gifts for upcoming birthdays. But I also made cards for the birthday people and that adds a more personal touch without additional cost.
Those keys are so expensive! I lost my fob and it was over $500 to replace. I did get it replaced but now I have attached an Apple air tag to both fobs. I got a deal on amazon $78 for 4 fobs. By the time I bought holders for them, it was $25 per fob. $25 is much cheaper than $500.
I wound up buying a second set and now I have tags on my earbuds case, my work id, my work keys, my house keys, and there is one in my pocketbook.
100% worth it!
I always put my sweet potatoes in the crockpot- they can get wonderfully soft snd caramelized and not burn.
I usually use low heat for 8-10 hours
My 5 Frugal Wins
1) Made chicken pot pie pockets and pork tacos with leftover ingredients from the fridge.
2) Got free lunch after volunteering to host a meet and greet event for a friend who couldn't be present because she was out of state for a funeral.
3) Had an inexpensive date with my husband. Went for a walk at the nearby park and got sushi at the grocery store.
4) Got books and dvds from the library.
5) Used Fetch.
Thankful for our mini vacation to the indoor waterpark. March in Wisconsin is cold, wet, windy, and brown and gray so a little break to splash around and ride water slides is so much appreciated!
Thankful my kids are getting old enough to enjoy chapter books. We are reading the Little House series aloud and it is just such a joy to experience the stories together and talk about them.
Thankful for this blog and community. I appreciate your writing so much and I hope you know what a difference you make.
Thankful that my dad’s PSA level came back really low. No more treatments for him so far. He does have to have it checked again in the future but for now he is good.
Thankful for black coffee. It is such a simple little thing but the routine of a hot cup in the morning is so comforting.
I don’t know if someone else has mentioned/can’t remember if you own a microwave, but you can also microwave sweet potatoes! I’d be curious how that lines up for power use with the toaster oven. Poke them all over with a fork, put them on a plate, and cook for…usually I do 5+ minutes for a medium potato, more like 7-8 if I have 2 or 3, can always stab with a fork to see if they’re soft and then give another couple minutes if not.
Follow up for anyone curious: microwave ovens appear to generally be less power per hour to run than toaster ovens AND you’re using for much less time, so the actual power use for something like cooking a sweet potato is substantially lower. Fascinating!
Yes! A microwave is def a cheap option and I've done that a lot in the past. But I do feel like the texture of the potato is better when it's actually baked. Do you notice a difference?
@Kristen, I haven't experimented with any of these; just writing to note that starting potatoes in the microwave, then switching to the oven or toaster oven might give you the texture you want, as well as some time savings.
1. I made a big kettle of chicken soup after a meal of chicken and 2 work lunches of chicken for son. This is using 5 lbs of 79 cents per pound leg quarters. The soup lasts 3 meals.
2. I did my son's and our taxes...all those forms, but big savings.
3..I love volunteering for days for girls making liners and making disaster relief quilts at churches.
4. I listen to lots of free books on Libby app.
5. I make flavored rice with spices and flavored cheese.
6. Got free Doritos with coupon at Pick n Save.
Have you considered using superglue to glue the key back together?!
Try Amazon...you can plug in your make and model and get an off-brand FOB. We do this for all of our cars...each is over 5 years old so I don't know if this makes a difference.