Five Frugal (er, not-frugal) Things
Hey everyone!
I'm out of town for a few days at Lake Tahoe in California, skiing with my parents and siblings. And that means my frugal activities have been few and far between.
So, how about some not-so-frugal things?
1. I did not buy my lift tickets ahead of time
It would have been much cheaper to buy my tickets in the fall of 2021, but at that point, I wasn't sure I was going to be able to go.
So, I ended up buying them two days before my flight left, and I basically paid the maximum price.
Whoops.
2. I did not use our Southwest reward points for my flight
Since this is a solo trip, and the Southwest credit card reward points are more of a jointly-owned thing, I opted to use my own personal fun money to pay for my flight.
I skipped upgrading to the early-bird check-in, though. I'm really not that pressed about where I sit on the plane.
3. I rented my skis and boots
Since I've only gone skiing two other times in the last 18 years, I've been opting to rent equipment.
In the long run, it probably would be better to buy skis and boots. But this way I don't have to store or maintain any equipment, and I don't have to take any of it on the airplane either.
So, I suppose this could possibly be a frugal-ish win.
It's definitely a less-headache win!
And now for two slightly more frugal things:
4. I do own some equipment
I bought goggles, a helmet, and ski pants from Costco a few years ago.
I bought my winter coat on clearance one spring at Dick's Sporting Goods, and I got my mittens for 50% off (also at Dick's Sporting Goods, interestingly).
Also, my rolling travel bag was a clearance purchase. And I used my refillable toiletry containers for shampoo and such.
Does this make up for full-price lift tickets? Ummmm, no. Ha.
5. I'm mooching off my parents for lodging
They have kindly rented a condo for all of us, and they have also rented a car. So, I don't have to cover those expenses.
Do I generally recommend mooching as a frugal strategy? Nope. But sometimes it is good to let other people bless you, particularly when they offer something as a gift.
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Really, I mainly wrote this post so that there would be a place for you all to share your weekly five frugal things. I'll be back to frugal living next week!
So.
Enjoy your ski trip Kristen! I am sure your parents love giving you all an opportunity for meeting up.
FFT:
I froze leftovers for future busy weeks
I sold two items on the Dutch equivalent of ebay, and packaged them in a box and envelope I had saved from previous purchases
I sent postcards and gifts using stamps that past me bought before the price of stamps went up
I mended a sock with yarn that was passed on to me from my Gran!
I borrowed several books from our library, one of them a book on crock pot recipes to see if the recipes are along the lines of what I like to cook. The verdict is yes, and I will ask a crock pot for my birthday. I am now trying to find out which type will be best for us. I'd like one I can in due time leave to our kids, so it needs to be sturdy. Husband and sons have already picked some recipes for me to try!
@J NL, My husband and I have killed a couple of slow cookers because we used them so often, almost daily. Try to get a slow cooker with a removable ceramic liner. It is much easier to clean!
@J NL,
I once read that digital crock pots won't come back on if your power should go off during the day. Manual crock pots, with the plain old knobs, come back on. That may no longer be true that digitals won't come back on, and power outages may not be a problem for you, but I thought I'd mention that.
I agree with Condo Blues, definitely you want a removable crock. I purchased the Crockpot brand (not digital), and it has lasted decades. Mine came with a little rack that fits inside to hold meat up out of the liquids which I use for some cuts of meat, and a metal cake/bread baking insert, which I've never used for cake or bread, but found handy to put potatoes in or to stand ribs up in.
@JD, I don’t have that nice little rack but use my metal veggie steamer to hold up roast chicken in slow cooker.
Thanks both for your suggestions! It definitely makes sense to have a pot with a removable liner, and the inserts sound practical also. Also I already figured out that I would prefer a slowcooker that does not have (too many) automatic functions. All the digital stuff seems vulnerable to me, plus I never use automatic options for my oven or washing machine so I rather doubt I'll be using them on a crock pot. I'd like to make spareribs and leg of lamb so possible an oval shaped pot might be more useful than a round one?
@J NL,
I stand my spare ribs on end and put them inside as a coil. However, for a leg, I think an oval pot is a must. Be aware! Crockpots can multiply on you. 🙂 I have a big round one that the lid broke, so I cover it with a silicone lid when making large amounts or large cuts, a middle-sized one for most of my Crockpot meals, and a little one for cooking a couple of potatoes, a small pot of beans, etc. A Crockpot, according to my manual, should be at least 1/3 full when cooking, so a big one can't be used for a small amount of food.
@JD, I have FOUR crock pots.. a nice large-ish oval one for larger cuts and big enough to make meatballs in gravy in. Two regular sized and a small one when I just want 2 pork chops or a side dish. I really love my crock pots. I broke the lid on one a while back but found a replacement lid at our local thrift store for 25 cents!! I host a more than a few potlucks each year (prior to Covid, and hopefully again soon) and I like to make 2 pots of soup or stew, one vegetarian and one with meat so having extra pots is a must!
Frugality is often about anticipating and preparing for things, but sometimes it's not possible and you end up paying full price as you did with the ski tickets. But then again, if you had bought them and couldn't go on the trip, it would have cost even more. So, definitely frugalish to do the next best thing 🙂
1. I was able to buy some cross-country skis on clearance! I was already despairing that I couldn't find any inexpensive ones for the end of the season, so I was happy to find some that were not hugely expensive. Our parks and trails have ski tracks, so it's definitely a frugal activity once you've bought the skis.
2. Made oatmeal for breakfast and incorporated the leftovers into pie crust the next day. I like the extra body it gives to crusts. Made spinach feta quiche, and froze the leftovers for future lunches (which I had today, yay for anticipating days I don't have fresh leftovers for lunch).
3. Electricity has gone way up in price. We have a communal laundromat in the building where I live, so I make sure to wash laundry there for larger loads like sheets and towels, instead of using my own machine.
4. For free activities, visited a museum with my free museum pass, and attended an outdoor light festival. My kids went to the movies for the first time in a couple of years, and I browsed around stores while waiting for them but didn't buy anything.
5. Been so tired of cooking while solo with the kids, but resisted takeout and made easy omelets instead.
I also have a few non-frugal things that were worth the money.
1. Our SIL's tire had been losing air for months. He took it to NTB months ago and it was no better afterwards. We volunteered to take it in on Saturday and a sensor needed to be replaced. We paid for the fix as a Valentine's Day gift. It was a big weight off his mind and an easy thing for us to do.
2. I met a friend for lunch and paid for his lunch. He lives on Social Security and lost his part time job when the owner of the restaurant he worked at passed away last month.
On to more frugal things:
3. I met anther friend for lunch and we ate at a quick casual place that I had a gift card for. The gift card was given to me by a friend that had received it as a gift and didn't plan to use it. I only paid a few dollars out of pocket.
4. I tried a new recipe, for Persian-Style Tomato and Lentil Soup. Even my husband enjoyed it. I did not have a lemon but got one from a neighbor that buys bags of them. I sometimes give baked goods to this neighbor.
5. My winter coat zipper was being very difficult. My husband waxed it for me and it is working great. No need to replace the coat or the zipper.
@K D, Replacing zippers is no fun at all even with a zipper foot, I've been told.
@K D, your taking your friend who lost his job to lunch probably did more good than you know. I know a lot of people over 55 in similar circumstances and it can be devastating to both the psyche and wallet. I highly recommend the book “55, underemployed, and faking normal’. By Elizabeth White. Even though written pre-pandemic it is a timely wake up call to the tsunami of older Americans struggling financially and some ideas for managing.
@K D, Awesome ideas and hints , bravo and thanks for sharing !
Funny, my doctor when suggesting some winter exercises suggested skiing. I looked at him and said, "Yeah, there's no way in H that I am ever going to do that." As someone with an extreme phobia of heights and has balance issues I think it's best I not ski. Plus I'd probably get somehow roped in to a race against my will with the fate of the local youth rec center hanging in the balance.
Here's my frugality for the week:
1.) I've had a lot of problems with jeans over the years and finding pairs that fit all of my criteria. While I haven't found a perfect pair yet, I did get a pair to add to my rotation. As a person who is between inseam sizes and wanting something a little less baggy on my thin legs, my wife was able to make some alterations to the new pair using her sewing machine and serger.
2.) My wife and daughter went out last weekend and my options were to stay at home or get dropped off somewhere. I ended up being dropped off at a nearby mall where I proceeded to effectively walk laps the whole time and got some exercise and got me out of the house. During this time I went to Five Guys and ordered just a diet soda and sat there reading on my kindle getting refills and eating peanuts for about an hour. The place wasn't too busy so no one seemed to pay any attention to me. The soda was overpriced of course but it was a cheap snack all around.
3.) Made dinner for Valentine's Day rather than go out. It's tough when you have a family of three and no ability to get a sitter and restaurants are just going up and up on their prices. So I splurged and bought a steak, cooked some mashed potatoes in the IP and made salads.
4.) Used some free (to me) Covid tests to prove that no, I just have a cold and I'm not dying because my nose is runny. I am planning on working remotely for the rest of the week if possible, though just to be on the safe side.
5.) Made homemade bread, yogurt and granola. Eating up leftovers, not buying anything unnecessary. Ya know, the usual.
@Battra92, have you considered snow shoeing? I am the world's biggest klutz but I can successfully do that!
@Kris, That was his second option. Basically if snow or cold is involved, I am out. I really really don't like cold and snow.
@Battra92, I completely understand the dilemma of being a family of 3 and no sitter. We live 4 hours from family and don’t really have close friends that we trust here since we had our child right at the start of the pandemic. So if we’re going out it’s always a family event. So special occasions are a nice dinner after the 2 year old is in bed.
@Jenn W, Yeah it's tough. My mom watches my sister's kids all the time but she almost never will watch mine because she is always watching them.
@Battra92 and JennW, we also didn't have family close to us when our 2 kids were young and dates alone were very few and far between. We seem to have survived it and I think it forced us to work better as a team, so there is an upside! But it's hard when you are in the moment.
I took a good hard look at my Capital One bill, which I pay off in full each month, and realized I was sliding into the "eat out because I don't want to cook" mentality. Not particularly healthy and costs much more than eating at home, so I have made my next week's menus a little more interesting to me so that I can avoid that trap. (I would eat out always if I could). I:
*returned a pair of shoes that weren't exactly right, because $50 is $50 and I will probably just put any more clothing purchases on hold
*Paused Hulu for 12 weeks since I have been (frugally) mooching off my daughter's Netflix and she isn't watching Hulu.
*Been keeping my thermostat set to low and wearing warm comfy clothes
*About to cancel yet another wine club - a remnant of my former life with Hubby when we had more fun money and time to spend together at wineries on weekends. This doesn't make me sad because I realize that expensive chapter is closed. On to another less expensive pastime!
@gina, high five , great job , I'm , the same way ! More Money in our Pocket for rainy days !
@gina, You could try having some frozen meals on hand for days like that. It's usually not as inexpensive or healthy as cooked from scratch, but it's a lot more so than eating out.
I think this week for you is all about money serving you instead of you serving money. Or something like that. Investing in something that brings you such joy is a good investment. Family is important.
@Jody S.,
I love your comment! It really made me stop and think
@Jody S., I agree with @BarbG: This is a really great way to look at it. Being frugal is wonderful, especially as it provides freedom from debt, but if it gets to a point that money dictates everything you do, then where's the freedom in that?
@Jody S., so well said, Jody!
Kristen, enjoy your ski trip! But since I'd probably end up in traction if I tried to ski, here are my FFT, Frugal Winter Olympics Edition:
(1) The Laundry Haul Event: With DH no longer living at home, of course, I don't do as much laundry as I used to. But I still carry a basket of wet laundry up 2 flights (from basement to second floor) about twice a week, so I can hang it on my good old laundry racks. I don't use the dryer for anything but sheets.
(2) The Wood-Carrying Event: On days when I run the woodburner, I make 2-3 trips out to the old attached garage (now used only for firewood storage) and then up the basement stairs with a full load of wood. (The tattered LL Bean Boat & Tote Bag I use as a log carrier was a trashpick.)
(3) The Trash Can Haul Event: On trash day, I've started bringing in a few neighbors' trash cans and recycling bins for them. (One neighbor has a broken arm, another has a bum hip, and two others are in their 80s. And I can use the extra fresh--sometimes very fresh!--air.)
(4) The Compost Dump Event: Last week, after a total of 12" of snow over 2 days, getting around to my composter with a full bucket qualified as a winter sport!
(5) The Stay Home and Avoid Online Shopping Event: Self-explanatory, even though it burns fewer calories!
@A. Marie, it’s so kind of you to help your neighbors like that!
@A. Marie,
That's a few ways to get your exercise! Good for you for helping out your neighbors. It's so nice that you live in such a friendly neighborhood.
@A. Marie, I'd say you definitely won gold in all five events! Congrats! 😉
@A. Marie, it used to be that if I stayed home, I couldn’t spend any money. Ha!! Not anymore. It takes a lot of willpower to resist online shopping, in part because it’s too darn easy. I also have to ask myself, why am I willing to spend more for an item online than I would in a store? It’s true. Trying to figure that one out.
@A. Marie,
I love the Olympics and love your FFT!!!
@SandyH, I think the answer to that question is convenience + hassle. Our time is worth something as well - how much is individualistic - and sometimes ordering an unusual item online saves a lot of time/effort/gas searching from store to store.
I hope you have a wonderful time skiing with your family.
1. This week, I took care of things that I already have. I polished my boots and repaired a sweater. They now look new. I organized my office supplies and pantry. If I can find things easily, I won’t buy duplicates.
2. I patched the leather in my car. There was a small tear in the front. I purchased a repair kit. With the cost of cars increasing, I want to make mine last as long as I can.
3. I bought the tax software that I use for 20% off saving $20.
4. I finally earned the $20 to make a withdrawal from my ibotta account. It takes me a long time to reach the threshold, but I have earned $200 in 3 years. Not too bad for little effort.
5. I am doing all the usual things - eating at home, brewing my own coffee, drinking primarily filtered water, reading library books, and listing things on eBay.
Wishing everyone peace and good health!
1. We have succeeded 2 weeks in a row on US $50 week for groceries. Tomorrow we get to go to the store. Excited!
2. We sold 98% of our furniture for a move. We just replaced it all for a 2 BR 2 BA apartment for $600 through Craigslist and Facebook marketplace.
3. We have been taking advantage of all the free parks in our new city walking/hiking/biking. Dressing warmly!!
4. Went to an estate sale on Friday. On Monday they posted everything left was free! Got a trash can for recycling, aluminum foil, postcards, a small hutch for small kitchen and a desk!
5. Walking to our local library and checking out lots and lots of books!!
1. Baked cookies for our neighbors who fed our birds while we were gone for a few days. For the packaging, I used a large mason jar. For decoration, I cut the front off an old thank you card that I had received, wrote a message on the back, punched a hole in the top corner of the card, and inserted a ribbon that I tied around the top of the jar.
2. Turned a sherpa lined hoodie inside out and used it to sew a fitted cover for my niece's round ottoman.
3. Created homemade valentine's cards for great niece and nephews.
4. Made pumpkin oatmeal using frozen puree from a Halloween pumpkin.
5. Made a quick and cheap veggie dip using random spices, mayo and sour cream. Enjoyed it with veggies that I had already cut up, which means I will use them up before they head south.
Your ski trip looks fun! Here's my five:
1. I did a full load of cleaning towels, dog towels, reusable mop pads, dish cloths, napkins, kitchen towels, and cloth shopping bags.
2. Ate leftovers for lunches and made sweet potato waffles from a can of sweet potatoes I found hanging around in the back of the cupboard - yum!
3. Had a frugal Super Bowl Sunday. My husband made Cincinnati style chili from groceries we have instead of getting takeout. I don't have a Bengals shirt so I wore an orange and black combination from my closet and watched the game on antenna TV.
4. Refilled, refrigerated, and drank tap water from sports bottles during my workday and evenings.
5. Biggest frugal win: I replaced 5 micro leaking bathroom shutoff valves (for the sinks and toilet) myself instead of paying big bucks for a plumber! A piece snapped off one of the PVC valves and I went to Lowes to buy replacements before I called a plumber. The plumbing department person suggested a type of shutoff that I can do myself and walked me through the installation. I replaced all five with metal shutoff values without any leaks and I learned a new skill. Eventually I will replace the rest of the shutoffs in the house with metal but I need to finish the bathroom renovation first. Which is necessary because of water leaks causing a moldy sub floor (that I also replaced myself.)
@Condo Blues, good for you on your #5. Plumbing intimidates me.
And your #3 may inspire me to make one of my variations on Cincinnati chili (I've got a few different recipes) later this week. My sympathies on the Bengals' loss, though.
I'm so glad you're getting to spend time with your family! Enjoy!
Several non-frugal (but necessary) things for me the past week:
1. Paid my county property taxes (thousands!). I did pay in person to avoid the 2.5% "convenience" fee if paid online.
2. Paid my car insurance for six months. I did pay this online to get 1.5% cash back on my credit card. Of course, I will pay the bill in full to avoid interest charges.
3. Scheduled an oil change for my car, but I will print a coupon to get $10 off.
Now for the frugal parts:
1. I used the $25 Walmart card I redeemed from Swagbucks last week to get a printer cartridge. No out-of-pocket cost, and I have $1.10 left on the card to use.
2. Inspired by a lot of you last week, I went through my stash of sample size toiletries and used up three tiny body wash ones (a small frugal and decluttering win).
3. I used up the cornbread I made last week for breakfast this morning. I microwaved it, drizzled it with syrup and topped it with strawberries. Delicious!
4. I made scones using ingredients on hand, including some ancient raisins that I almost threw out. Again, delicious!
5. Ordered a baby gift using Amazon credit earned from a receipt app and used wrapping paper and a card I already had. No out-of-pocket expense.
@BarbG, your #1 & 2 may be large chunks of money but that doesn't make them unfrugal.
These days, making plans ahead of time is always a gamble. I don't blame you at all for waiting to buy tickets; that was probably the safest option. I'm sure you will have fun! Although, it would take a gun pointed at my head to get me to ski down a mountain, and even then I might opt for the gun.
My FFT:
1. My husband is still in the hospital while they search out a rehab that can - and will - take him for post-surgical physical therapy. After a prolonged visit last night, I got home at nine, but I threw a pack of thawed chops in a pan and cooked anyway. No restaurant food.
2. Instead of buying candy for my youngest grandkids, I made heart shaped sugar cookies with ingredients and a cookie cutter I had on hand and delivered them on my way home. They jumped up and down with excitement.
3. I put up a lot of sweet potatoes this weekend. I'll try to finish the box that I purchased from my farmer, this week or weekend. Many of the canning/freezing recipes I looked up said the potatoes should be freshly dug, but the Ball Blue Book said they should be cured. Mine are cured, so I chose to believe the BBB. Don't we always prefer to believe what suits us? 🙂
4. I mailed a birthday card using a Christmas themed stamp. A wrong design is no reason to discard a good stamp.
5. It's a chore, but I keep covering my veggie plants with frost cloth on these frosty nights and uncovering them each morning before I leave for work. So far, they are all looking good.
Mine are kind of frugalish, too!
1. Continue to pack my breakfasts and lunches. Snore. But I see friends at work spend 50? a week on delivered lunches.
2. Got my husband some cherries for Valentine's, as he loves them and they are a treat!
3. Made a new recipe that is frugal and tasty.
4. Offered a lower bid on a new planner that was accepted- frugalish?
5. Keeping up with all my MD appointments- eye, teeth, feet.
Oh fun!! I'm glad you got to do that with your family. My FFT is also vacation-related, so some of them are FFT-ish.
1. We spent a 4-day weekend in Kentucky and rented a house with my in-laws. It was cheaper than 2 hotel rooms and awesome to have space for the kids to play.
2. Kids are free at the Ark Encounter in Kentucky this year, so we only had to purchase 2 tickets instead of 5. Yay!
3. We also visited the Cincinnati Zoo and I was expecting 50% off tickets for being an AZA member, but they discount their tickets this time of year anyways and don't offer the reciprocal discount. It was a good price and their zoo turned out to be a great cold weather zoo. Definitely worth it.
4. We went to the National Museum of the US Air Force in Dayton on our way home and it's totally free!!! It's even free to use their strollers. My kids loved it.
5. We brought food and cooked or packed all of our meals and snacks while at the house in Kentucky. We did buy fast food on the way down and the way home, but that was it.
@Ruth T, we are definitely in the rent-a-place camp when we vacation. It's SO nice to have room to spread out and to have kitchen facilities available--and we have found that the price is often less expensive than a hotel room. The ability to cook your own food instead of eating out all the time is a money saver (when I say "cook" .... it mostly refers to reheating food that I prepared at home .... I also want a break from my daily duties!).
Your trip is a perfect example of living frugally every day so that you can spend money on things that are important, and time with your family having fun is important. Enjoy!
My FFT:
1. Sewed up a small rip in my husband's suede house slippers using some thread gifted to me years ago. The spool was marked 45 cents and made in Stamford, CT! The thread was still good and strong.
2. Trimmed by own hair.
3. After a couple of months of planning ahead, we purchased my hearing aids (Bose SoundControl) directly from Bose for $849, which is not a small amount of money, but thousands less than other options. Our health insurance had paid for a visit to an audiologist, the results of which helped us determine that the Bose aids would work well for me. I have been thrilled with the results and no longer blast passengers out of my car with the radio settings. 😀
4. Used up some bananas from work that no one wanted to make some banana-strawberry snack muffins. Yum.
5. Used some frozen strawberries and a can of juice-packed peaches to make a pan of baked oatmeal for my breakfasts this week. Very yum. When our local supermarket renovated recently, all the canned goods with the "old" labels were put on clearance. Same stuff on the inside, just a different look on the outside. I made out like a bandit on the cans of juice-packed peaches.
@Ruby, I've enjoyed your comments here and on Surviving and Thriving re: your stash of thread. When DH, I, and DH's sister cleaned out my MIL's house back in 2006, I fell heir to MIL's entire stash of thread and notions--more because I couldn't bear to see them go to waste than because I knew what to do with them.
(Side trip: MIL was a professional seamstress and alterations lady for a number of high-end shops in the Cleveland, OH area in her day. She tried to teach me how to use a sewing machine, but she didn't make any more progress than my 7th-grade home ec teacher did--who almost flunked me out of the class because I couldn't figure out how to thread the machine.)
Anyway, I passed almost all of the stash along to Ms. Bestest Neighbor and a friend of hers who is an art quilter. I've retained only the thread in basic colors for basic mending. But I still look at those old spools and smile.
That looks like such a fun trip!
Here’s my five frugal for the last week:
1. My 3 year old and I signed up for a beach cleanup at the beach near our house last weekend. It was the first time doing one with him and it’s hard to predict what he’ll enjoy (I worried he may not like walking so much or would get bored) but he loved it! He kept saying “I love this so much!” So free entertainment plus we cleaned up our beach.
2. I finally sold the baby fences I’ve had listed on fb marketplace for several weeks now. I had been getting many messages about them but no one was following through. I was almost at the point of lowering the price or just giving them away but finally someone followed through and bought them.
3. I walked to the library yesterday to return some books and pick up new ones. It’s less than a mile away but I’ve never thought to walk there before. Carrying a backpack full of books probably made it a better workout too haha
4. I signed up on the Safeway app after you mentioned getting free potatoes through there. I rarely shop at Safeway because of the prices but it is the closest grocery store to my house so may be worth it if I just get the free or discount items. It gave me $5 off $25 for signing up, I haven’t used it yet though.
5. I did not go overboard on Valentine’s Day for my kids. I’ve mentioned before that my mom bought us a ton of (mostly junk) for every holiday and was all about quantity over quality so it’s hard for me to not feel I need to do the same. I gave them each a card, a sand bucket(which i’d bought awhile ago with a gift card) and one candy. They were very excited. Plus they ended up getting plenty at their school valentine exchange. Slowly learning new habits one holiday at a time!
@LB, I didn't go overboard for my kids for Valentine's Day either. I got each of them a small, round stuffed animal. I also bought a few bags of Hershey's kisses and let them fill snack sized bags with as many as would fit. It worked well and they were perfectly happy. (Should note that my kids are teens/tweens.)
I hope you have fun skiing!
1. I couldn't find a warm sleeper for my baby to wear in the car that wasn't a puffy snowsuit (they're out of stock this time of year but my baby keeps growing!) so I sewed one without buying new materials, just the pattern. That felt pretty great!
2. We decided not to reupholster my favourite armchair in leather because the quote we got was for $800 (excuse me while I faint.) It was a free chair; it's well-made and comfortable, but it's not worth $800 to me! Instead, we will accept its orange stripes and baby spit-up stains.
3. I rescued two packages of freezer-burnt beef and made a pretty decent stew.
4. I took advantage of a half-off promotion in our local paper and put in a Valentine's day ad for my sweetheart 🙂 Not the kind of thing that I would personally appreciate but getting people the gifts they want is good value!
5. I saw some fabric that I had previously very much wanted on sale for a very good price...and I didn't buy it. I was tidying up some craft supplies and was forced acknowledge that I have WAY TOO MUCH FABRIC and I should NOT be buying more "because it's a good price."
As a side note, I thought of you this week Kristen, because we're on a tidying/reorganizing kick and I remembered your article on how cleaning your space can help you appreciate it! That's so true.
I don't know if I can come up with 5 things this week, as it was a big birthday week for my best friend (3 birthdays in 8 days) and my family (1). Let's see what I can come up with:
1. Big birthday celebration without presents. Cheesy as it sounds, being together is our favorite thing, and the kids think it's the best too. Friends got balloons and I made a cake. (We ordered pizza for dinner since our gathering was very last minute, so that's not frugal, but we did use the combo deals and such to make it cheaper)
2. We watched Olympics all day using a free all-access NBC/USA etc. pass my husband got from work while the kids played
3. Gifted my son a really neat rock collection that my best friend's son outgrew and discarded
4. Got a cabin for a couple nights for my family to celebrate son's birthday (not frugal, but tremendously restful to have no connection to data or internet), but packed in all our food, and kept it super simple (except for cake, which was detailed because my son has a massive imagination and had some pretty complex requests)
5.
I don't know that I have five things...but we'll see how far we get. Have fun on your ski trip Kristen!
Used up (mostly) freezer/fridge stuff for the Superbowl and Valentine's day. We opted not to have people over to watch the game because, well, we actually like to watch it! So, we had veggies and ranch, chips and salsa, and then brats from the freezer and some baked beans I was very happy to get out of my pantry! Valentine's was crab cakes from the freezer, hassleback potatoes and some brussels sprouts (I did buy those this week).
We only got each other cards for Valentine's day and didn't splurge on any fancy wine or champange or anything. Cards are fun and easy!
I remembered to cancel my free trial of Adobe PDF Cloud so, no charges for me!
With very little snow happening and more sun showing up we've opted not to drive up to the ski resort the past few weeks...so that means a big savings on gas.
Really buckled down on grocery spending and in app coupons this week. 74 dollar spent. 41 saved.
Due to extreme cold I went nowhere other than work home and grocery pickup.
Did large loads of laundry on cold.
Cooked and ate at home.
Made all coffee tea cocoa drinks at home.
Time with family especially PARENTS is priceless IMO!
am so glad you are having a good time and are happy and well. you deserve it. enjoy.
Have so much fun, Kristen! To have adventures is why you live the frugal life day to day.
I love and admire how great parents are parents for their kids even when they are adults. You have a lovely family of origin! Siblings who make time to get together and parents who literally support time together.
It’s such a happiness boost to hear about good people.
Have fun! We were in South Lake Tahoe a few weeks ago! It was beautiful but needed some more snow! I hope it isn’t too icy for you. Enjoy your family time, it’s such a gift! Usually 😉
Hi Kristen,
Enjoy your ski trip and time with family! Sounds fantastic! Everyone needs a non-frugal week from time to time. I don't mind paying a little more for fun experiences and travel.
Dick's Sporting Goods has great deals sometimes! They always seem to be having sales.
1) Like many commenters, I opted to make a Valentine's dinner at home. I made homemade pizza with pepperoni in the shape of a heart and copy cat reeses peanut butter bars. I used a couple of new strategies recommended by Kristen for better pizza and I have to admit, the crust really was better. I think the big difference was a higher temp for a shorter time.
2) I ordered baby shower invitations for my DIL last week and the order was cancelled. Running out of time, I ended up using Canva to create a free online template, which could be emailed and downloaded/printed, so that was definitely a frugal win.
3) It has been so cold here in Maine, but I am trying really hard to add more layers rather than turn the thermostat up.
4) I am giving my husband a haircut at home today and dyeing my own hair at home also.
5) I am getting some dental work and eye exams in while we have the insurance we have since I don't know how long we'll have it.
1. We paid cash to the flooring company and the company replacing the countertops resulting in a savings of 3-5% on each bill due to avoiding the charges you incur for debit/credit card processing. On large purchases like this this usual small amount can be a hefty sum.
2. Shopped around for our HVAC and water heater purchase & installation. We saved several thousand dollars between the two after getting several quotes. Time is valuable but this was worth it.
3. Made a large pot of chicken noodle soup using up some chicken from the freezer. This fed us all well for 3 days.
4. Frugal Fail: Our son caught a stomach bug over the weekend and I was without Gatorade or 7-up. Instead of being able to stock up at sale prices I paid $7.49 for a 12 pack of soda and $8.49 for an 8 pack of Gatorade. This is normally something I would have had on hand but since we have been avoiding the grocery store I had not replenished my stock. Prices are truly insane.
5. I finished moving all of our utility services to our new address and saved $7/month on WIFI. We need to replace several faucets in the new home and I chose a less expensive option in order to save $$. I ordered them online to cash in on a President's Day sale along with the light fixture and cabinet pulls that were needed. Shower heads were purchased from the clearance rack at Lowes. Grocery prices are still climbing and we have some clearing to do in our new backyard in order to be able to plant. This is something we were going to wait on but now has been moved up in priority. Our garden will yield produce far beyond the amount it costs to clear the area in one season.
@Angie, Soda has gotten quite expensive, even compared to other items. What I find most interesting is that Coke and Pepsi prices have diverged significantly whereas usually they're about the same price. I've switched from Coke cans/16 oz bottles to Pepsi 1 L. The silver lining is the realization that I should do this permanently because a 1L bottle is so much cheaper and rather less recycling.
@Angie, I ran out of Mayo and had to buy a jar at regular price. It was $6.83. I was stunned!
My last week didn't feel frugal because we spent so much money (home down payment and other future home expenses), but hopefully our choices will be frugal in the long run.
1) we got paid $300 for an appointment in the medical trial we are participating in.
2) we bought a less expensive washer and dryer (less expensive than the fancy options on the market). We did realize that we spend about $300 a year at the laundromat so even though we will now pay utilities to run the washer/dryer we hope that over time we will pay less on laundry.
3) made soup with homemade broth instead of store bought.
4) packed boxes with supplies donated from friends! (It is fun to see what newspapers people read.)
5) cashed in a redbox coupon so we could rent Dune for $0.82. (I love Dune so very much.)
It would be 100% worth it for me to get my adult children together in one place. So I bet your parents don't have the slightest thought that you're mooching. Have fun!
1. I invited my parent over to watch the Super Bowl. I rummaged through the cabinets to find snacks and dinner so I didn’t have to go out and buy any food. We ended up with a good spread of snacks and homemade pizza!
2. I’ve brought leftovers to work for lunch the two days that I had to go in to the office this week.
3. I found a bunch of granny squares that I crocheted with a project in mind years ago that I abandoned. I discovered that I made just enough squares for a baby blanket (not the original plan) so I’m working them together for a friend who is going to have a baby soon.
4. I finished a book this week and went to my to-read pile to find my next book instead of picking up something new online or at the store.
5. I looked through my back issues of Fine Cooking to find a “challenge” recipe to make where I had all the ingredients on hand. I ended up making pierogis – it was my first time making them and it was lots of fun. And they were delicious!
Have a great time, and ski safely!
We've been eating up leftovers like a machine, which is always good. I mended a sheet this week, and last night, I dug through the bin of cross-stitch and embroidery supplies that I inherited from my grandmother to find my next project. Lots of good stuff in there, and it's all items I inherited, so they're new-to-me and perfectly good. Looking forward to being able to put more of them to use! 🙂
1. Bought a 1/2 flat of Strawberries and used all of it doing the following:
**Made Strawberry and some Mixed Berry Jam
**Made Chocolate Covered Strawberries (which were eaten while watching the game)
**Put a large mason jar full in my fridge for us to snack on
**The rest were froze to use up in smoothies
2. Used up the last of the blueberries from last season to make a couple of half-pints of blueberry jam. I preserved all my jams by water-canning. Last year I did the freezer jam but it takes up so much space so I went for it and bought the canner a while back. It was scary, fun and rewarding! lol
3. I used a $2 Extra Bucks on my Eye Concealer at CVS, which was already marked down to $3.98. So $1.98 was a good deal!
4. Made a batch of Veggie Soup and a big bowl of Tuna Salad for my work lunches this week. I used up a couple of veggies that didn't have too much life in them in my soup and a leftover ear of corn .
5. I also bought a large box of Roma tomatoes and I will be preserving and water canning those into Marinara/Sauce. I paid $10 for the box and it has a lot of tomatoes in it. I did this last year (again putting them in the freezer) and I had a lot of jars, so I'm looking forward to getting that done. Jars of organic sauce cost over $3 a jar so this will be some good savings.
1) Shopped season-end clearance for my daughter and got really good deals on a winter coat, boots, and long-sleeved shirts. She is 16 now and hopefully her growth spurts are winding down.
2) I've been on a quest to find a good, easy, free slipper pattern to knit. I was finally successful! I have lots of stash yarn so everything was free.
3) I hosted a tea party for family. Yes, I know that makes me sound like a little old lady ... but we had fun, my cost was minimal, and I had fun making and decorating cookies. This time of year, it seems like fun activities are hard to find, so I'm proud of myself for taking the bull by the horns and making my own fun to share with others.
4) I did my yearly kitchen scrub-down yesterday, which is exhausting, so I bought and served a take-and-bake pizza from Aldi--and it was on sale! I know it doesn't seem like a Valentine's dinner, but we all liked it, and it was nice to have an easy supper plan.
5) I made my husband a pie for Valentine's Day. We keep our celebrations to a minimum. He loves pie, I love to bake, we had all the ingredients at home, including the cherries from last summer's pickings, so it was win-win.
@Kris, I would LOVE to be invited to an old fashioned tea party. Once a year (BP = Before Pandemic) I would hold a 1940s dinner where I cooked food from a British wartime rations recipe book and attendees had to wear things that looked 1940ish. Silly but fun and I always had many takers, so I was not the only one who enjoyed it.
@Lindsey, your 1940's dinner sounds like such fun indeed. It is totally my kind of thing.
@Molly F. C., if we all lived close by, think of all the fun parties we could host! I love the 1940s meal idea. Years ago, I was friends with a woman who would cook a meal based on the cuisine of a different country every month. She would do something challenging such as researching meals from countries in Africa and serving them. It was enjoyable to try some different foods and to learn a little more about the countries represented.
@Lindsey, your 1940s party sounds like so much fun. It would be interesting to see the recipes. I recently read the book The Kitchen Front, and I found the perspective on this time period very interesting.
@Kris, when I graduated with my MA (years ago), I requested a tea party rather than any other kind. It was PERFECT and there were a number of fabulous hats worn.
@Lisa K., there’s a blog you might like to check. I’ve followed it for six or so years but I just saw it mentioned on another site so thought I’d mention it here. She and her husband thoroughly research past years and then as much as possible live like they did for that one year. And this year they’re back in 1943 with a huge focus on rationing. So we’ll get some of those recipes I’m sure, once rationing really kicked in. It’s gdonna.com.
@Lindsey and others, our Jane Austen Society local group has done tea parties (pre-pandemic) from time to time, and these have always been among the most popular meetings. And the 1940s dinners sound like great fun. As Kris has said, imagine the mayhem we could all come up with if we lived closer together!
Your ski trip sounds fun! It's so nice that you all get together like that.
My Frugal Five-
1. I cut my son’s and husband’s hair.
2. I separated and transplanted some plants to fill in some empty spots in my flower beds and planted two more trays of lettuce seeds.
3. I topped off the spending on my Chase Southwest card to earn a companion pass by prepaying my health insurance. I applied for a personal card and a business card to get the sign on bonuses earlier this year. Now whenever I fly on Southwest, my husband can fly for free in until the end of 2023.
4. Just the usual, reading library books on the Libby app on my computer.
5. More of the usual, walking for exercise, cooking at home, and sitting on the beach to relax.
@Sandy Beach,
There actually is a beach in Hawaii, called Sandy Beach. 😉 Clever name, huh? https://hawaiibeachsafety.com/oahu/sandy-beach
@Deb, I didn't know that. We haven't been to Hawaii yet, but it's on our list. Cool name for a beach.
@Sandy Beach,
Last time we were there, a lifeguard met us as soon as our toes hit the sand. The surf is very treacherous there, so it's best to look at the surf and bask on the sand. We were actually with a local friend, so we knew this, but the lifeguard said the immediate warning program was saving lives.
1. My kiddo has a birthday this week and asked for an ice cream cake. Knowing that I'd spend $40+ on one from the store I bought a jar of hot fudge, some Oreos, and ice cream to make one. I'll mix up some frosting and will have one for about $10 that will taste just as good!
2. I needed a jar to store some simple syrup in to make pouring easier. I picked one up for $5, then realized that the jar that I just emptied of hot fudge sauce was a perfect size. Washed it out and used that instead and am returning the jar I paid for.
3. Picked up some St. Patrick's day cards at the dollar tree for my nieces and nephews, they're still little and love getting mail. For $2 I can get 4 cards there and they'll get their own mail!
4. Reserved more books at the library to keep up with my reading habit.
5. Found some freezer storage containers on our neighborhood resale page, picked them up for free! Turned around and gave away some items that we no longer needed to pay it forward.
AEW, it sounds like you have the cake figured out, but Kristen has an ice cream cake recipe on her site somewhere.
@Cheryl, I'll have to look for that! There's always next time, thank you!
Have fun with your family!
My frugal five:
1. My check engine light came on in my 2010 Honda CRV. It needed a new catalytic converted. Dh dickered with the dealership and got the original $3600 price down to $2600 by having them use an after market converter.
2. I threw out all the Rubbermaid containers as they had a mysterious white stain on them. I will order some Tupperware as I know those will probably last the rest of my life. I do have a couple of glass containers, too.
3. Went down the shore to visit dh's sister on Saturday. We went in his company car and used the company's gas. The car and gas are part of his compensation.
4. That $849 (?) is a great price for hearing aids. I've never knew Bose made hearing aids. Dd probably could use a new pair and Hubby got his at Costco.
5. Eating from home. I'm not eating much as I had a gastric sleeve surgery in December.
My Five (sort of) Frugal Things for this week aren't TERRIBLY frugal, but it is what it is.
1. I ordered a new dishwasher (NOT a frugal thing - we probably could have fixed the old one, but there are things about it that really bug me, so...) - but we are installing it ourselves (saving $200)!
2. We're doing a pantry and freezer challenge until the freezer is at least 75% empty, so the grocery trips have been super cheap.
3. We ate at home for Valentine's Day.
4. I cooked filet mignon for V-Day that I found in the Manager's Special area of the meat case for about 1/3 the original price.
5. I exchanged my 2-bedroom timeshare for a 4-bedroom unit for us and our daughter's family. I exchanged through a third party company and saved more than $1200 compared to doing the same exchange through my timeshare company.
Have fun on your trip!!
1. I picked up a pair of barely used New Balance sneakers off Buy Nothing, which will be great for warmer weather.
2. I made pancakes using homemade applesauce I had frozen. They fed my family for breakfast both weekend days. I am eating leftover chili for my lunches this week. I used homemade vegetable stock and leftovers potatoes to make Zuppa Toscana for dinner.
3. We went hiking, in the snow, as a family Saturday. We slid down the icy hills on our bottoms, which is so much fun. We live in a beautiful area with lots of trails to hike on. Hiking these trails in the snow is the best!
4. We used our science museum membership this weekend to see a new exhibit. We brought snacks and water with us. Our membership gives us a discount on the museum's summer camp that my son attends every year. So, it pays for itself in just one or two visits.
5. My husband took a new job within his company, which comes with a $20,000 raise.
6. Our town is rolling out pre-kindergarten for 4 year olds this year. Kids are accepted based on a lottery system. My daughter will be eligible this year, so I applied this week. Fingers crossed, as this will significantly lower our childcare costs.
@Corrine Wilson, whoa! That is a nice raise!
@Corrine Wilson, Congrats on the raise! That's a big deal.
1. I did my very first Mystery Shop! (Thanks to either someone here or on Non-Consumer Advocate). It was at a pricy grocery store, and I had to purchase all staple items (chicken, eggs, milk, bread, etc). Not only were the cost of groceries reimbursed ($32), but I made an extra $20 to do so.
2. I had pureed butternut squash in the freezer for AGES, as my partner and I realized that neither of us actually like it (but I couldn't bring myself to throw it out). I found a recipe for a savory quick bread that uses it, along with enough spiced--cumin, turmeric, etc.--that you can't taste it & it is really quite delicious.
3. Between Swagbucks deal and BOGO at grocery store, I made more money back than I did to buy enough laundry detergent that will last us 8 months.
4. Another deal on Swagbucks - I get paid to buy candy bars. I figure that by the end of the deal (it lasts until the end of April) that, after paying for the cost of them, I will make over $100. I can now be the cool neighbor who gives out full-sized candy bars for Halloween.
5. My partner and I don't celebrate Valentine's Day, so saved money on no cards/dining out, but we did make pizza (and commented on making it heart shaped, or putting the pepperoni heart shaped, but I think we were too lazy to actually do it!)
@bettafrmdaville, haha, that was my plan too, but round was just easier. Still tasted great!
I love the occasional non-frugal things post! It’s really how we all should live, mostly frugal, but not miserly frugal. We do have money to enjoy things sometimes! I’m usually tight about paying for entertainment (my dad was a Disney cast member my whole life so my entertainment was free!) but on vacation in Myrtle Beach, we bought 5 tickets to a dinner theatre and it was absolutely worth it.
I have a very non-frugal weekend-with-a-friend coming up in a few weeks. I'm saving some money around the edges (such as negotiating for spa credit when they messed up our original reservation and I won't be buying alcoholic drinks) but there's no getting around the magnitude of the indulgence. And this, FT readers, is one of the reasons to remember that frugality is a means to an end and not an end in itself.
1) I'm changing financial advisors, which will save me quite some money in the long run as the new company's fees are lower, leaving more money to invest. (In case anyone is thinking of suggesting different ways for me to invest, don't bother. I'm a former finance jock and am aware of the full spectrum of options.)
2) Instead of donating cash this year to 501(c)(3)s, I donated some highly-appreciated stock. I get taxed on the amount I paid for the stock while the charities receive the appreciated amount.
3) I often pick up firewood when I'm out walking the dog. Yesterday I found a pile of wrist-thick wood already cut in short lengths from someone's yardwork. This is more useful than the kindling that I usually find. Between scavenging and chopping up logs from local trees that the city cut down, I haven't paid for firewood in years.
4) Knitting with yarn I already have on hand: a baby sweater for my newest relative, two hats for gifts, and a new hat for me. (I just deleted a 4 sentence paean to the yarn I used, which is amazing stuff from Manos del Uruguay.)
5) Bought 10 jars (=2.5 c) of Penzey's garlic for $10, plus rainchecks for jars of hot chocolate for $2 each. The former I use at a great rate, the latter makes great small thank yous or holiday gifts.
6) Making sure I cancel Disney Plus before the next payment is due on Friday. I don't have a long-term streaming subscription. I get Amazon Prime & Netflix as benefits of other memberships, and get other services for just a month or two as a treat. By not making them permanent, they remain a treat rather than just background.
7) My fancy, upscale housewarming gift for friends was a hand-made, queen-sized quilt from Nepal that I won in a raffle: $300 quilt for $5. Not only do my friends need more bedding since they have more bedrooms, they've been to Nepal and will appreciate the call-out.
8) My recently-married friend was in town. I didn't know what to get him as a gift: I wasn't one of the 10 people invited to his miniscule wedding, I don't know what their new place is like or how much space they have or what they need, and he probably didn't check baggage. I bought them a large box of Penzey's spices on sale: the usual $50 box was $10. I didn't even wrap it because wrapped gifts and the TSA don't go well together.
9) The usual: library books, brown bagging, not buying clothes, batching errands, not wasting food, exercising at home or work instead of a gym membership, waiting for books to be available in paperback (preferably used) - even ones I'm dying to own such as Naomi Novik's The Last Graduate.
@WilliamB,
Love Naomi Novik's books.
All from the library in my case, since it’s just over a mile from our house and the library system will get any book that is not in their physical building when you put a hold on it.
Those are some seriously great FTs, by the way!
@WilliamB, I award you "Urban Logger" status on the basis of your #3 (see my recent Meet a Reader profile re: DH as Urban Logger). And I wish that more folks who put wood on the curb would cut things up kindling-size. I've sold DH's gas-powered log splitter and most of his saws, and my friends frankly turn pale every time I pick up something with a sharp edge. (Long story re: an accident with a kitchen knife over 20 years ago.)
@A. Marie, Thank you, ma'am.
I read your blog often but rarely comment- about 5 years ago we replaced Christmas presents with skiing….
So awesome that your siblings get together for this special time!!
How I Ski Frugally with a Family of Ten (almost every week)
1. Buy season passes during the sale (save 20%) at the end of the last season-
2. Ski midweek (season pass is cheaper for midweek and midweek is less busy -so get in more runs because no lift lines) (we homeschool and husband is self employed with flexible hours)
3. Ski at a resort where kids ski free 12 and under (only need to buy4 season passes)
4. Bring food and hot drinks from home.
5. Ski in used equipment and pass it down.
We do however take one not so frugal ski week…
Hey...looks like amazing skiing!
I am going to list some things...you can decide how they fall on the frugality spectrum! It is school vacation week here.
1. My older daughter is currently in Iceland on a trip with the science department at her high school. This was expensive, but we paid for it using an installment plan over 2 years. My daughter paid for 1/3 of the trip and for all of her spending money with her earnings from her excellent ($17.68 per hour) job.
2. We took the younger daughter to Boston/Cambridge because she wanted to visit art museums. We stayed at an AirBnB, cooked some of our meals and used my teacher ID for some discount museum admissions. We also enjoyed some delicious restaurant food and shopped for clothing.
3. Younger daughter and husband are skiing today at a mountain that is usually very pricy but they are having a special mid-week deal today...still pricy but much less than full price. It's a treat for them and they decided to buy lunch there to make it even more celebratory.
4. We are frugal and save money the vast majority of the time and it allows for this fun things to happen sometimes!
We're also skiing this week so ya, not a particularly frugal week but doing what we can wherever we can:
1. Been skipping ordering full meals if I'm not hungry. I have snacks and help my kids finish their plates (they don't usually eat everything). Have the sam philosophy with ski gear as Kristen...we buy most of the pants, jackets, gloves and base layers on sale and bring the helmets and goggles with us on each trip. We haven't invested in boots for the kids because they're still growing so fast but are considering getting boots for my husband but are hesitating because then we'd need to lug them on every trip.
2. Packed strategically to avoid paying extra baggage fees (we usually fly southwest but it just didn't work out this time).
3. Probably the most frugal win this week - Started walking down the path of "husband doesn't seem to hesitate to spend money on x, y, z...why do I hold back?" but realized that was not smart thinking. I'll continue to do me and he can do him. He's not foolish with his money - he and I just place different values on convenience and effort.
4. Had tea at home and for free in the hotel room instead of buying it, even though husband tempted me several times.
5. Had my physical. Scheduled my mammogram. Maybe not terribly frugal but I do have insurance and preventative care should save me in the long run. Knowing I'm healthy encourages me to make better choices - I've been pre-diabetic since having kids (11 years) and I've been able to maintain my A1c levels through diet and exercise. I'm hoping to keep that going for as long as possible.
@CrunchyCake, preventative care is ALWAYS frugal. Just think of the cost of getting breast cancer, colon cancer, or diabetes because of slacking off on the testing. My only brother put off colonoscopies too long and is paying the price now, big time.
Enjoy the family time. It looks like a lot of fun, and I believe (saves me from feeling guilty 🙂 when I do it) that sometimes you really can't/shouldn't put a price tag on happiness, experiences and time with family. Here's our Five Frugal things for the week:
1. Used a $35 gift card my husband received from work during the holidays to help with the weekly food shopping.
2. My father gave me a $100 gift card to a favorite quilt shop for Christmas. They were having a Super Bowl sale (20% off). I had so much fun shopping for fabric and ran into a few friends who were doing the same thing as me! I spent a grand total of 46 cents after more than two hours of entertainment at the store.
3. I order from a place called FABScrap, a company in NYC that works to reduce textile waste by acting as a fabric collection station for design houses and then re-sells it to the public. The fabric is wonderful. I ordered some melton wool to make my husband a new insulated jacket and noticed they had lingerie and swimsuit elastic available for free. I ordered some in every color (24 yards worth) and paid $3 for shipping. I am making plans to make a volunteer trip there this summer with my daughter and sister.
4. Signed up through our county health department to pick up free masks and COVID tests at our town hall. Also received a stack on KN95s from work. I work in a courthouse and we are still mandated to wear a mask during working hours unless we are alone in the office.
5. My phone died. Which is never frugal. Admittedly it was really, really old. I did some shopping around and decided what I wanted (nothing fancy needed and it doesn't have to be pretty - just functional). We ordered it online and took it to the carrier to be activated. Saved more than 30% doing it that way rather than getting one of the store's offerings. Hopefully, this one will last many years like that last one did.
With the cost of groceries going through the ceiling I will not waste a morsel of food! I had some wilted salad greens so I sautéed them in garlic and olive oil and stirred them into a homemade lentil soup.
If I have even half a cup of coffee left in the coffeemaker I pour it into a jar and into refrig and reheat it the next day or later int huge afternoon if I need a pick me up.
I used soon to be bad milk and leftover cheeses — made into a quiche for our lunches this week.
I am sewing two buttons on my pajamas which are my only pair of flannel pjs. I like them better than my flannel nighties. I purchased good quality pj’s about 4 years ago and they are still going strong.
I PUT BACK a bathing suit I had put into my cart while getting some essentials at Target.I got excited to see summer clothes (It is soon to be spring here in Arizona!) and loooved this suit. But by the time I was done grocery shopping I couldn’t help but remember I have 3 other suits that are in fine shape. SAVED by skin of my teeth.
Avoiding meals out almost altogether.The restaurant prices have gone through the roof around here and the quality and service are lacking. I cook a lot, like you do, and I actually love my own cooking,so it’s ok with me. We have a favorite Mexican place which is economical for occasional splurges.Mostly for a huge breakfast burrito for 5 dollars that feed TWO.
Entertainment: Walked our local riparian park, rode my bike, made sure to go outside and watch the sunset, Read library books, and listened to music and did crafts with supplies I already have.
Your family ski photos are priceless!! Memories made, and love! So worth every penny you spent!!
Five frugal things-
1. I used up all leftovers and produce in the fridge before I went to the grocery store.
2. I used my old dirt devil hand vacuum to clean out my car instead of going to the car wash to use the vacuum.
3. I forgot Valentines for my preschooler’s class. Frugal save late Sunday night by using supplies we already had.
4. I went to the library and they actually had the book I wanted to read!
5. My husband and son went on a father-son trip, which is not frugal, but the bonding and memories are so worth it!
Have a great time with your family !
Enjoy your ski adventure!
1. My family struggles with food waste and eating out more often than we would like. My husband used a promo offer to try one of those meal prep delivery services as part of an attempt to eat at home more.
2. We were able to get cash back on Sodastream cartridge refills by using a link on our credit card company's website.
3. I committed to the 52 Hikes Challenge for 2022. Free family entertainment.
4. We've been using our pellet stove to keep heating costs down.
5. We wanted a larger enclosure for our two dwarf rabbits. Instead of buying one, we pulled out the dog crate that we no longer use. It's perfect!
My 5 frugal :
* I wrote Bicks companie about a defective product (food) and they sent me coupons for free items.
* I stopped using hair products at work. I wear a N95 and a face shield all day long, so what's the point? Poney tail, frizzy hair, don't care!
* I am (trying, for the millionth time...) calories counting in order to lose weight. Eating less = cheaper groceries
* Hubby and I decided on a Stay-cation this summer. I was never a fan of travelling, and now with Covid it's even less tempting. So we will chill at home and do free/cheap activities with the kids while NOT having to pack, NOT having to travel far, NOT having to meal-prep, and be able to sleep in our own beds (with air conditionning on). Sounds like a pretty great vacation to me!
* I dropped my new laptop and it didn't break
1. I was sick during the week so didn’t order any groceries. I did a top up shop while I waited for my daughters ballet class tonight. I had $35 in supermarket points so total shop was $15.
2. I started a fridge/ freezer/ pantry challenge and found a few things that are about to expire so we are using them up.
3. Was accepted into a supermarket club where I get to try free products.
4. Cashed out $40 from a shop back app. It was mostly accumulated dollars from my Christmas shopping.
5. I was gifted free books for my baby from a buy nothing group on Facebook.
FFT- New Baby Edition
1. The new baby arrived, along with both sets of parents who have been feeding us and buying miscellaneous necessary items like extra diapers. (We have cloth diapers but are waiting a while until we get into a bit more of a routine.)
2. At the hospital, we were given several onesies and swaddle wraps, along with other sundries from our room. I’ve been glad to have the extra supplies, and the swaddles are wonderful.
3. Thankfully breastfeeding is going well so far, which saves us from buying formula.
4. Grateful that our insurance covers well child visits at 100%, as well as several visits from a lactation consultant.
5. Sold a book on eBay– it wasn’t worth much, but better to have it out of my hands and go to someone who will use it.
6. Completed a short survey through my professional organization for a $5 gift card.
7. Received a large referral bonus for a friend who took a position at the company I work for- she was the one who contacted me and initiated the referral process, so that was an unexpected gift. I’ll send her a gift card as a thank you.
Ohh, congrats on your new little person!!
@Kristen, thank you! We waited and prayed for Baby E for a long time, and are grateful we could afford several rounds of IVF. Being frugal in other areas allowed us to "splurge" in the IVF area, ha!
Oh goodness, well, many extra congrats then, given the long journey it's been to get here! I am delighted for you.
Late, but I had a fun frugal Aldi find made even more frugal by my lovely husband. I bought two packages of marked down bone-in pork chops. They were two dollars off and each package had three chops, so they ended up being a little less than a dollar per chop. When I got home, my husband said he would cut up two to make stirfried orange pork and peppers, and suggested I freeze the other four (putting one in a ziplock). The stir fry made enough for dinner one night plus three lunches for me, so we are definitely stretching those pork chops for all they are worth!
Other frugal things were the boring usuals: packed lunches, ate/cooked at home, wore my unexciting but soothingly predictable teaching wardrobe, drove my 18 year old car to work, batched errands, etc.
We head to Park City for ski break tomorrow, and I'm excited about it. However, like you, we were concerned about wasting money on ski passes we couldn't use, so didn't buy them when they were cheaper. And, let's just say that they are ....not cheap, right now. Not at all cheap. Like, really not cheap.
For frugal wins:
1) Saw that flights to Hawaii had dropped, and we are taking my mom for her 70th birthday. Cancelled & rebooked my flight, saving $200.
2) Sold a jacket on eBay
3) Used grocery store rewards, uploaded receipts via Fetch, cashed out Fetch rewards for Amazon credit
4) Used up chocolate almond milk (an accidental purchase) in smoothies, and everyone loves it in that usage.
5) We are renting a condo for our ski trip, and avoiding most meals out. I have two teenage skiers, however, and they will not be satisfied with packed PB&Js for lunch, no matter how big their breakfasts are. So, we will also plan for lodge lunches for them. We will bring our own snacks & drinks as well.