1. I got a small Christmas tree
With the way the semester end is bumping up so close to Christmas, I got a very late start on doing anything Christmassy. I checked with Zoe to see how invested she was in a big tree, and she said, “Not at all.”
Ha.
Soooo, I bought a little inexpensive tree (but a real one!), which we will put a few ornaments on and call it good.
This was really an issue more of convenience than frugality, but it did end up being less expensive than usual! 😉
2. I bought some marked-down ice cream bars
Are ice cream bars a necessity? No.
So one could argue that they are not a frugal purchase at all, I suppose.
But it is fun to have a little treat here and there, and clearance ice cream bars are an affordable little treat. 🙂
3. I used the vanilla peach juice to make a fizzy drink
I sometimes drink a can of sparkling water (I buy the Aldi brand), and one night this week, I added some of the syrup from those vanilla peaches I’d gotten at Aldi. Yum!
I don’t really know how strictly frugal this is because it’s not like the syrup from the peaches is terribly valuable.
But it did make for a rather nice little fizzy drink treat, and still with less sugar than a glass of juice or soda.
4. I put nail polish on the runs in my tights
I bought these leggings from Five Below last year; they’re fleece-lined leggings that look like black nylons.
The foot part is not so thick, though…more like regular nylons. And like regular nylons, this part got a run in both feet!
So, I stuck a drop of nail polish on the end of each run to keep them from getting bigger. It’s an ugly fix but it doesn’t matter because that part is always hidden in my shoes.
Except for when I show the whole internet. Ha.
5. I…
- used a Starbucks gift card
- passed all my classes this semester (retaking classes is decidedly not frugal!)
- had my annual gyn appt (free with insurance, even my crappy insurance)
- used TopCashback for a Christmas gift purchase I made
JEG
Saturday 21st of December 2024
Admittedly I am writing this on Friday but I bought gift cards with all of my accumulated points. I have found "2" things to get rid of in my house and put them on the buy nothing page. Someone has responded and hopefully she'll pick them up. (I'll sort through my stuff to slowly weed out what I am not using anymore) Last week I was able to get a nice wooden desk for my grandson's birthday present for a very, very reasonable price. My grandson seemed happy. I needed a pie cutter/server for a gift. The online reviews were confusing and I had not seen one in a store yet. My friend had an extra one that she had only used a couple of times. Bonus. In our conversations the other night, we were talking about baking products. I'll order a mix she likes to bake with.
AW
Thursday 19th of December 2024
I also had a small Christmas tree a couple months after my first was born. Like you, I wanted an easy button and that’s okay. There’s a season and time for everything.
My Frugal 5’s 1) Gave Christmas cards I already had for my girls’ teachers. 2) Decorated a wreath in our dining area with ribbon, bells and pinecones I already had. 3) Got a few extra muffins from the food pantry and some goodies leftover from the Christmas program for my nephew and girls. Also borrowed a cassette player there so I can play a cassette tape my late husband’s father left him with his words of wisdom and encouragement for him. 4) Ate a box of See’s candy chocolates I got last year with my family. It was sealed and surprisingly, still good. 5) Returned $80 of items to Walmart, Canceled Amazon Prime before 1 month trial ended, and brought a set of Bible tabs before free shipping expired for my girl’s Bible she’ll get next Easter.
Joyce
Wednesday 18th of December 2024
I made turkey/chicken barley soup from leftover broth I had in the freezer that I made from our Christmas turkey and from rotisserie chicken I bought. I also used leftover turkey I had frozen from that turkey. I used bananas I had in the freezer to bake two loaves of banana bread and shared one with a relative. I donated a bunch of new candles and holders to Good Will after I cleaned out out a china hutch. I have plans to get rid of more things I haven't used in years. Yippee!
Ellie in AR
Wednesday 18th of December 2024
I'm late to post, but here are my 5 frugal things: 1. I mended a tear in the sleeve lining ofmy husband's work jacket. "A stitch in time saves 9". 2. I was tempted by a cute holiday, "fast fashion" tee @ a big box store. Walked around the store with it in my cart. Returned it to the rack prior to check out. Good for my wallet, good for the environment, good for my over stuffed closet. I watched a PBS special that showed the end result of fast fashion and was convinced to avoid purchasing these items. Pretty easy since I have too many, new to me, clothes already. I only need to remind myself of this when lured by "cuteness". 3. Made vegetable soup from "frozen assets". I've been eating it for lunch and dinner. Homemade biscuits make it more appealing. 4. Did not buy diet cola. I'm trying to wean myself from this bad habit. I made iced tea instead. 5. Used my old seasonal decor. When you lose something in your house and then find it, it seems new. It's also a sign that you have too much stuff. (I'm working donating excess so others can enjoy.)
Dovelady
Wednesday 18th of December 2024
Bought .99 pumpkin in Nov baked it ,pureed it into portions for 4 pies even after eating some as side dish. 2. Used the unspinnable alpaca fiber as pillow stuffing . This was after bought raw fleece for cheap locally and processed at home into bespoke scarf and sweater 3. Now temperature is freezing stocked up on flour leaving in car, will put it in freezer come spring. 4. Mixed snicker doodle dough to bake a pan when baking something else, wrapped tightly in fridge between times, fresh baked indulgence without over eating. 5 heat is on 60,if use oven adds lots of heat otherwise sweater and leg warmers under sweat pants. 6 buying marked down milk, making yogurt and lemon farmers cheese.