Four Frugal Things (and one not-so-frugal)
1. I planted some green onion ends
I saved the root ends of two green onions that were in my veggie drawer, let them sit in water for a day or two, and then stuck them in the dirt in one of my outside pots, where they will grow new green onion tops.
I'm not close to considering myself a gardener, but this is easy and reliable enough for even me!
2. I stuck some wilty kale in a mug of water
I used part of my poor neglected kale in a pot of soup.
but I stuck the rest of it in a cup of water, where I have faith that it will perk up.
3. I made a batch of granola
A reader was going through my old posts recently and found this one (which I posted maybe a week into my blogging career. lol). In it, I shared that I was planning to add three frugal cooking skills to my list:
- croutons
- granola
- crackers
And she pointed out that ⅔ of those are in my regular rotation now (the croutons and the granola.)
The homemade crackers,though? Ugh. I disposed of that idea after giving it multiple tries.
Anyone who has made crackers can tell you that they are a lot of work for not much reward. Tedious is an appropriate descriptor!
There's so much rolling and poking with a fork and cutting and it is so hard to not burn the edges of them, especially if you haven't rolled the dough perfectly evenly.
I decided homemade crackers are not at all worth the effort.
5. The fail: I got sucked in with a Sam's Club sample
I almost never buy the foods they serve as samples, but this time I cracked!
The sample was a small cup of seasoned pretzels, and I thought the pretzels would be savory.
But I was pleasantly surprised to find myself snacking on some cinnamon-sugar pretzel sticks, and they were so good, I spontaneously put a bag in my cart.
This is not the largest frugal fail ever; I think the huge bag of pretzels was something like $8.90.
Your turn! What frugal things have you been up to?
(and you can share a fail if you want too, of course.)
I'm with you on the annoyance of homemade crackers. Store-bought for me, too.
Frugal things . . .
--We got two roosters from our neighbor. My husband butchered both of them, gave one back to her, and roasted the other for our Sunday dinner. The bones are in the pot right now to make stock and soup for dinner tomorrow. And my friend at school who has a big chicken flock asked me yesterday if we would take one of her excess and very mean roosters. Always.
--We butchered two sheep this past weekend, resulting in about a hundred pounds of meat in the freezer. And also the leg of lamb we'll be having for Easter dinner.
--I have radishes coming up in the garden, and am still waiting on collards, lettuce, and spinach. In the bathroom under the grow lights, there are basil, green onions, tomatoes, kohlrabi, and cabbage.
--I did order one big floral arrangement for our church altar for Easter from a florist, but I'm going to Walmart today to find a bunch of other flowers I can put in other places in the church. I'll arrange these myself. I like arranging flowers, and I'm looking forward to it. It will also save a LOT of money. I'm happy to get the one big arrangement from the professional, but I can't afford to get all the flowers from them.
--When I went to the track meet last week, I was in a town with a feed store, so I got hay for my husband so he wouldn't have to make a separate (120-mile) trip. I hate putting hay in the back of my van--such a mess--and even the smaller bales are pretty heavy for me to load, but my friend that got a ride with me helped, and it saved on gas and time for my husband.
@kristin @ going country, I bet he was so grateful for that hat favor! I love your network of chicken traders!
@Sue, *hay! Darn it I ruined my own joke!
@kristin @ going country, I didn't know that you like arranging flowers. That's so fun! Do you grow many in your garden?
@Ruth T, I don't really, because I find vegetables to be enough work and water. However, we did plant more spring bulbs last year, so the daffodils are blooming now and I have some on my table. Mostly I like to pick and arrange the wildflowers that grow on our roadsides in the summer. I find it to be the same sort of challenge as making random ingredients in the kitchen become something tasty. I love that, and I love making what are essentially weeds into a pleasing arrangement for our table.
@kristin @ going country,
One of the gift store "malls" where I use to have a booth featured someone's signs. One said, "May all your weeds be wildflowers"! Sounds like what you're getting with the roadside blooms. I bet your arrangements are lovely.
@kristin @ going country, ask your local funeral parlor if they have leftover flowers arrangements. I used to get them and bring them to the school and nursing homes. People would give me glass jars and I would use those. I would make dozens of little bouquets. Everyone loved them and it kept the huge arrangements from being tossed with fresh flowers.
@Marybeth from NY, that is brilliantly resourceful! Makes me wish we had a funeral home in town. . .
@Marybeth from NY, this is something our family has insisted on with recycling funeral flowers.some of the recipients even make potpourri to further recycle. I recall it's having been a request by a dying great grandmother but do not if she was the starter or not.
@kristin @ going country, I absolutely LOVE wildflowers, and we have an abundance in our back pasture. Years ago, my husband picked a huge bouquet for me to take to Oklahoma and put on my father's grave. They were the prettiest ones I've ever left there. We put them in the ice chest for the journey and they traveled beautifully. I was so pleased because they were as pretty as anything from the florist and absolutely free.
When anyone calls them weeds, I reply that they're the flowers that God plants.
@kristin @ going country, as to the hay in your van....before we got a pickup, we had to use the trunk of our car, and you're absolutely right: it's very messy and hard to clean out. So the next time, I put a tarp in the trunk floor. It wasn't a perfect solution, but it was a lot better. Folded up, they don't take up much room in the trunk. Over the years, my husband has had to crawl under the car at the side of the road to fix something so we could get it running and be on our way. Wish we'd had one with us back then for him.
@kristin @ going country, I also hate hay in my car. I keep a few 50 gallon trash bags in my car. I find I can fit a bale of hay in one, then slide a second bag over the other end and Viola! Much less hay in my car. Lol
I don't think the pretzels are too much of a fail. I imagine you'll get lots of servings from the bag and it's cheaper than going out for ice cream or a similar other treat. You're definitely a frugal pro if this is your "fail" 🙂
@Steph, Dot’s pretzels are a cut above most in my opinion and a reasonably healthy treat. I like the regular and the mustard flavored ones, but the ranch flavored were way too salty for me. In Florida Dots pretzels are sold in most Ace Hardware stores. I have just begun to see them in other stores.
Not much frugal here. I went to the insurance office yesterday to review car insurance coverage- I need to remove on kid who is now off on his own in a big city far away. However, removing him caused the rates to go up?!?! The agent spent a lot of time playing with the percentages and has no clue what's up. After a half hour, I left. She'll investigate some more, and I'll go back today to see what she could do. Car insurance costs more than the mortgage each month, so we need to find savings. And the agent advised us not to take our daughter's old car ( which she offered to give us) as it is very expensive to insure for a car that's not worth much. Sigh. At least I got Easter candy on sale...
@mbmom11,
If your state allows this, try taking out only liability insurance on the old car. The rates should be cheaper that way.
Also, be sure and check around for insurance rates from competing companies. Often, they will give big discounts to new customers, to entice them to come on board with them. But after a few years, they raise the rates on you. Automobile insurance is one area where it does NOT pay to be a years-long loyal customer.
@mbmom11,
I have been making changes to our auto insurance policies in an attempt to bring our rates down. Nothing that I have done has had a significant impact. The city I live near just made the list for the top 20 cities for accidents, so rates have gone up across the board. But there are so many factors that go into determining insurance rates, it is hard to figure it all out.
@Frugal Lisa, Good advice on shopping around. Most auto insurance companies do not reward loyalty. This is something that I’ve never understood. Keeping an existing customer by offering fair pricing and good customer service is much cheaper than finding new customers.
@mbmom11, I was told that auto insurance NATION WIDE ALL COMPANIES WILL INCREASE 21% IN 2024 due to high claims from flooding on East coast & California along with electric vehicles are more expensive than expected to repair/replacement passing that along to insurer's. 🙁
In addition to the many people driving around with NO INSURANCE, NO LISCENCE PLATE AND (SOME) NO LISCENCE that affect our insurance rates (apparently). 🙁
My insurance doubled adding my teen to my vehicle as additional driver! I have to get teen own vehicle this summer because sharing is becoming very difficult & not necessarily option with both schedules. I pay more now for insurance at 50+ then I did at 19. And my vehicle is not new, had 5+ years with NO ACCIDENTS EVER & NO TICKETS EVER.
This makes NO SENSE to me.
@Regina, My Ex husband was told by auto insurance company that when removed me policy amount would double (I had my vehicle on my own separate policy with another company which was less money). I told Ex insurance agent that could remove me but Ex did not because doesn't want to pay higher prices. I was recently told had not been removed. Of course Ex has many accidents & prior bad judgment calls related to auto insurance & legally doing right thing, which is written into permanent information that causes higher prices.
@mbmom11,
Definitely shop around on the insurance. It's ridiculous how high some are. I think a lot of people just go with what they know and don't like change and the companies know this and definitely overcharge. We recently changed our car insurance. My husband had been with the same company for 20 years and it had gotten ridiculous. Got quotes and now pay 6 months of insurance for the price of 2 on the old one with very similar coverage.
@Fru-gal Lisa, no kidding! We paid the insurance for our 3 OLD vehicles yesterday and all three increases together add up to $400. REALLY?? an '86, a '96, and an '03. . . come on, you confiscatory bureaucratic inept giant companies!
@mbmom11,
Like the other commenters, I highly recommend shopping around-- but recommend using an independent agent. You should just be able to do an internet search and come up with someone local. They don't have ties to any particular company and will do the legwork for you of shopping around. There's no charge to you as they make a commission from the insurance company. We've used an independent agent for years now and have saved so much money!
@mbmom11,
whoa! apparently car insurance is a big cost for every one. I would like to stay with our current insurers, as the customer service when I have a claim is amazing. But with 5 cars (even if the cars are 15+ yrs old or with over 125K miles) it gets pricey regardless of what we do. The agent had to turn the issue over to the big boss, and he'll see what we can do. all else fails, we'll leave son on the policy for now and figure out details later. Thanks for the suggestions!
@mbmom11, Ugh, we've had quite a bit of flooding in my area during this winter. Lots of cars, etc, were destroyed.
I have a good insurance company in New Jersey that gives you dividends. They have opened up their service area to Pennsylvania so that has lowered my yearly dividend. I took dd off our car insurance as she doesn't have a car now and when she comes home she uses it very little.
@Regina, my car insurance in 2024 was non-trivially less than in 2023, so clearly not all companies. That's quite the sweeping statement so I wouldn't be surprised that it's wrong.
@Regina, there's a reason that teenagers' car insurance is expensive.
@mbmom11, sorry but this how it's been for decades.
@mbmom11, Our car insurance has gone through the roof: one truck (24 years old), liability only = $2,200 for 6 months. Grandsons live with us and don't drive it, but insurance company won't allow us to remove them from the policy. My guess is that it's all the uninsured motorists on the road.
A long time ago, we shopped around for cheaper insurance and switched for about 6 months, but it didn't pay. My husband was out of work and we were late twice with payments and they dropped us. So, aside from that short period of time, we've been with this company for over 50 years. They've been excellent going to bat for us on accidents that weren't our fault, paying us $20,000 that we didn't know we were entitled to when husband was injured in an accident that was our son's fault, covering us when we were late with a payment.
So, yes, I can probably get cheaper rates, but they've saved us so much on big claims that it's not worth it for us to change. Incidentally, I recently found an old receipt from our agent back in 1974. 6 months liability on our 3 year old VW beetle was $24.00. !! Adjusted for inflation, that's still only $150.96.
● Received free farm fresh eggs from client that felt bad because caused extra work after changing mind (a coworker handled client) & brought fresh eggs into office later that day. 🙂 Coworker not fan of fresh eggs (???) & prefers store bought already cooked eggs So I asked & recieved. 🙂
● Used a Love my Credit Union coupon for doing my taxes (I did my own & boss (QUALITY CHECK mandatory for software program when doing own) & I purchased Tax Identity Shield (& was allowed to used coupon. My $415 taxes charge costs me $30. AND already found out that my ID has been used (which I suspected) & now will follow process to deal with situation.
● Ran out of bread & decided to stop into Save-a-lot & pick up (Meijer price higher) instead of going all way to Sam's club (same price).
● Neighbor kind enough to offer to let me put my small bag garbage into their container until get garbage can replaced after being stolen. Garbage has to be in specific containers & waiting for replacement.
Frugal Fail---
● replacement garbage can is $100 delivery charge (my responsibility to keep garbage can, doesn't matter it got stolen).
● school band fundraiser & (only) purchased meat sticks (costs double of meat market). At least good cause & will get eaten instead of more over priced stuff don't need.
@Regina, What is this world coming to when someone steals a garbage can?
@Jennifer, right? and costs $100 to replace!
Happens all the time on LI so most people spray paint their house numbers on them.
@Regina, Is that trash can made out of gold? Silver? Good grief!
@Jennifer, I suspect someone's can got damaged or stolen and they didn't want to pay $100, so they stole a replacement.
@Jennifer, crazy part is that only mine was stolen on block & more were out (including neighbor across street).
@Regina, My garbage can disappeared for about 12 days and then I saw it on the street about a block away. My city was able to give me the number of my can, so I could rescue it if turned up. I hope yours makes it's way back to you. So frustrating about the $100. Mine was going to cost $50.
My parents' garbage can disappeared and the garbage people said occasionally the entire can falls into the garbage truck during the automated dumping and they don't even notice. I'm pretty sure they didn't have to pay for a replacement.
A very frugal week inideed! We switched up our Medicare Advantage plan this year and the new one with Aetna gives both my husband and I $800 a year to spend on just about any items related in any way to health and fitness: Sneakers,pickleball memberships, fitness trackers.. camping gear!!
SO: I purchased a $144 pair of Brooks sneakers, to help with foot pain this past year I eed really good shoes, and they are not cheap! I filled out and mailed my forms for reimbursement!
My husband bought an apple watch to track his fitness and also of course he uses it for his part time work chores as well. Filled out reimbursement forms.
Also purchased a room HEPA filter for my husband’s small home office where he sees sometimes 10 people a day in enclosed spaces, one after the another.. and he has caught several “colds” this year form them! This room cleaner reduces viruses by a huge amount.Again, filled out the forms for reimbursement.
In addition to this, Aetna also includes Silver Sneakers membership so hubby and I get to swim and do Zumba at local gyn for FREE! So nice to see
an insurance company spending money on WELLNESS!!!!!!!!
More frugals: We just returned to plant based whole foods eating.My BP inched up a bit and no animal products brings it down within 2 days without medications. And lentils and beans cost way less than meat!
@Madeline,
Could you please tell me what kind of HEPA filter you got and where you bought it from? The oak pollen is in full bloom here and I could hardly breathe last night. I have giant live oaks in my yard, and I've developed a pollen allergy because of it.
I'm going to be forced to get an air purifier for the bedroom.
@Fru-gal Lisa,
I have issues with oak pollen also. It seems especially bad this year. I use a 3M HEPA filter with the highest filtration rating. I bought mine at Home Depot, but I’m sure they are available other places.
I also bought a indoor air scrubber 3 years ago. Mine is by Shark, but there are several good ones out there. It makes a world of difference.
@Madeline, just be cognizant that even though a service is covered by Medicare, Aetna may require pre-authorization. Which is NOT your responsibility, it is the providers. First time I reminded the provider, they did not pre-authorize. Guess who ate the cost - hint is wasn't us. While I've been happy with the better half's plan, I'm also ready to be loaded for bear if they won't pre-authorize.
I think the pre-auth is ridiculous and I know it is driven by what the Medicare Advantage insurer doesn't pay out, is profit. Human and Aetna make a tidy profit.
Three frugal-ish, one not so. I am SO tired today. Never again will I sleep with three dogs in the bed. So many paws poking me. I better go have more coffee as I have that job interview today.
The handyman came up with a clever solution for the problem of the Lucite case being not quite deep enough for the shark jaw display. Yay! Which meant I didn't have to find another one.
Not so frugal: I sent a bouquet of daffodils to my mom. They arrived looking old, so I complained and got a new set. I also ordered a very nice cake for my sister to bring when she sees Mom for Easter. But you know, it's my mom.
I was able to buy lots of vegetable tops for almost free at the supermarket. Making gumbo z'herbes for Good Friday and it takes a lot of z'herbes.
I bought lots of fruit and colorful peppers to style the cottage kitchen for photos. Then we ate them all.
@Rose, I love sleeping with a pile of pets in my bed. The trouble is that one of the cats often insists on a middle of the night love fest. 1. Moves up by my head 2. starts purring so loudly he can be heard down the block 3. starts drooling on me and licking my face 4. expects rubbing and affection in return. I always wearily comply because I am a sucker.
@Anne, The beagle needs to be touching me at night. Rescue Pup apparently ditto. Then the coonhound needed to jump in and she's another clobber paw, and much much bigger than the other two.
@Rose, Ha! That's 12 paws!
NOT THAT ANYONE ASKED but I nailed the interview.
That said, you never know who your competition is with a position. Also, ugh, not 100% sure I want it. Guess we'll see how it shakes out.
@Rose, Good luck on the interview! Theoretically I like sleeping with our dogs, but this new Great Dane has abandonment issues and glues himself so close to my back that I can't sleep well. If my husband and I are spooning, he plops his 140 pounds on top of us to force us apart and then happily lies in the middle of us. So we are now saying no and redirecting him to his Tempurpedic twin bed, but right now it is taking repeated ejections of him because he will leave our bed for a half hour and then try to sneak back in.
@Rose, Congratulations on nailing the interview! What about the work makes you say you might not want it? Either way, though, well done.
@Erika JS, The fact that they seem to expect me in the office 40 hours a week. I'm tired, people. Don't wanna.
@Rose, wonderful! I hope that leads to a good outcome.
@Rose,
Just reading this now....it's 9:41 pm, so a long time after your interview....but I just knew you'd rock it! Looking forward to hearing what they offer you, and if you decide to accept.
@Rose, I love Beagles! However, our two - Zelda and Cissy - have to sleep in the dog crate. They don't understand boundaries.
I don’t know if I am going to make 5 frugal things this week. Let’s see:
1. Shoveled my driveway, steps, patio which was time intensive but it was cheaper than getting my snow blower fixed. Also needed the outdoor time with physical activity.
2. Bought chicken last eeek and prepped it all so I could easily use it in dinner making. This discouraged the desire for take out.
3. Looked at standing desks for my office and discovered that the budget ones aren’t worth it, so I didn’t buy one and will start saving to get one that I really like, after asking colleagues if anyone is offloading theirs.
4. Purchased clothes for my kids at second hand store (win)Sadly these are for kids to have at ex’s house because the kids didn’t have enough clothes there for the weather and despite waiting a month, the situation was not resolved (annoyance).
5. Reused last year’s supplies for a family holiday we celebrate at the onset of spring and got one added item from a buy nothing group.
I came up with five and I didn’t include all the regular packing lunches, drinking homemade coffee, baking my own bread, etc.
@Kaitlin, also look on FaceBook Marketplace. There are always people unloading desks there and maybe 1 will be a standing desk.
@Kaitlin,
Ugh, I'm sorry your ex couldn't manage to get your kids some clothes to have at his place. Geez, it's not rocket science, Ex.
FF Everglades National Park day trip edition
1. We brought our water bottles from home and stopped at the fruit stand for healthy snacks.
2. We bought an annual pass since we're hitting some parks out west this fall.
3. We hiked several trails.
4. Later in the day we split a Mahi sandwich at the newly reopened restaurant at the end of the park.
5. I really, really wanted to pet the adorable manatee rolling around by the dock, but I didn't. There were signs warning of a $5,000 fine for messing with the wildlife. I did get a lot of pictures and videos though.
@Sandy Beach, I think saving yourself the cost of a $5,000 fine by not petting the manatee was as an EXCELLENT frugal win!
@Sandy Beach, buying the annual pass is a good move as some national parks have gone cashless.
@Maaike in Cali, Plus, you never know. We get a lot of seals here in the winter and people insist on petting them and then they get bit.
@Rose,
Manatees are extremely gentle, docile creatures. Sadly, laws such as these are in place to protect the manatees from humans.
Sandy, have you made a trip to Blue Springs? During cold spells or freezes — usually in January — manatees will enter warmer water of the spring run. There will be dozens at a time swimming in crystal clear waters.
@Bee, I haven't been to Blue Springs (but would love to go), I grew up in the Tampa Bay area and we used to go up to Crystal River to see them. I've seen them swim right by me down here on the beach a few times. It's a little freaky to be swimming in the ocean and see something big and dark swimming toward you until you realize it's a manatee (or manta ray).
@Sandy Beach, one year we were in Naples and dh was swimming out in the Gulf and a manatee came up to swim with him. Priceless!
@Sandy Beach,
Not sure which NPs you plan to visit this summer, but we went to Badlands NP, Pikes Peak, Mt. Rushmore, and the St. Louis Arch NP last summer, all of which were glorious. The Badlands was my favorite.
@auntiali, Wow! Such an incredible blessing!
Dot's pretzels are definitely NOT frugal, but they are so delicious they are worth an occasional splurge!
@Jean, Amen! They are a high quality snack, sweet or savory.
@Jean, I will not ever be tempted buying Dot's pretzels because the one time we tried them, 2 people in our house got migraines (msg, I'm guessing).
Now I need to find a recipe for those pretzels!
I had that thought and then I was like, "KRISTEN. You're in nursing school. Stick to the basics and just buy the pretzels." lol
@Kristen, good decision! And make sure you fully enjoy every single one, guilt-free.
1. Where we live we can “rent” a parcel of land for three years so we can cut down trees for firewood. It cost only $30 and now my partner has felled about 1/6 of the allowed amount, which is about what we use in a normal winter.
2. We borrowed a log splitter from a friend of a colleague so the splitting is really easy. Will give a bottle of liquor for “rent” so that too will only cost about $30. Since it was so easy to use that I could do it myself a log splitter is the new savings goal:)
3. We had an unpleasant surprise while painting the room where the old oil tank stood in the basement. The paint had bacteria growth so it smelled so bad when finished.
The paint company didn’t say anything about it but I will send in all the receipts. With all the extra work I feel it’s only right that they pay for the all the paint used, not just the extra expenses. So I’ll note is as a frugal win at least..
4. The room will be for our camping gear so it needed a lot of shelves. Found what was needed around the house and my partner modified a couple of IKEA BILLY bookshelves to fit in the small room. I’ve had them since 2006! I have moved probably ten times in those years, so that they still are functional is quite surprising.
5. I was this close to buy a beautiful hand carved heddle through Instagram just the other day. Then my partner asked me for a band so he could hang up the key for the weapon cabinet in the “new” room mentioned.
I took it as a sign to finally carve my own little heddle for weaving band as I’ve wanted to do it for ages. It took me three hours to carve the heddle and two hours to weave the band, and the heddle looks terrible compared to the amazing horse shaped one I wanted to buy on Sunday, but I take it as a frugal win.
@Gunn from Northern Norway, we have multiple BILLY bookcases since the early 2000s also, and we too have been impressed at how well they've held up through multiple reconfigurations!
I can't believe you carved your own heddle. That's amazing.
@Gunn from Northern Norway, I just got a lovely book from the library, titled "Simple Weave". Author is Kerstin Neumuller (with an umlaut over the U in muller.) She has a horse-shaped heddle on the cover. She gives instructions on making all the tools you need, and parts for various looms. Fascinating!
I'm finally just about to have cataract surgery, so I'm hoping to be able to weave again. I have a wide inkle loom that weaves nine yards at a time. Now if I can use a carving knife without carving my fingers? We'll see.
1. I took advantage of birthday freebies from Starbucks, Panera, and McDonald's. I have one from Jimmy John's, too, but it's good for a few more weeks.
2. Last Tuesday I had to drive from Michigan to North Carolina and I packed lunch for all in the car. I got some day-old Jimmy John's bread for 50 cents and made yummy subs. (My brother bought Chick-fil-A for dinner since it was my birthday.) Saturday we drove from Michigan to Pennsylvania and packed enough food that we didn't have to buy anything on the drive.
3. I had to go to a funeral on Wednesday and didn't think I had anything quite right to wear. I struck out at Goodwill, so I went back to my closet with fresh eyes and found a couple of things that ended up going together really well (a dress with a long-forgotten cardigan). I was glad that I ended up not having to buy anything.
4. For our trip to Pennsylvania, I borrowed some CD's, audiobooks, Adventures in Odyssey, and a mobile hotspot from our library.
5. We went to Chocolate World in Hershey yesterday where we did the free ride twice and I got some discounted candy for Easter eggs, as well as some Superhero-themed chocolates to share with my nephews tomorrow.
@Ruth T, that sounds like a crazy long distance! Did you do it in just one day??
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, Yes. The drive from MI to NC took a little over 10 hours (we were slightly faster on the way home) and the drive from MI to PA a couple of days later was a little over 8 hours. I was exhausted! But it was worth it to be with family. (The funeral was for my uncle in NC, now we're in PA visiting my in-laws.)
@Ruth T, yikes. Traveling mercies, my friend!
I've made homemade crackers, granola and croutons and I agree 100% on all of them. Common crackers are the only things I might make again but only because getting them is a little difficult (not so common in this part of New England) but the other two are worthwhile to do.
I feel like there's a Milhouse's dad joke to be made about crackers but I can't think of one right now.
Anyway, here's mine:
1. Sold a couple items on eBay. I'm not getting rich but I am decluttering and making a little cash for my pocket.
2. Got a good deal on some fiber bars. They aren't for me but someone needs more fiber so there we go.
3. Went away last weekend and while it wasn't frugal I did bring my own snacks because the place we were at was basically highway robbery with their prices.
4. Worked a tiny bit of overtime. Not a ton but enough. Also bringing my lunches and stuff like that.
5. Frugal FAIL! So we had some leaking under the sink and I saw that the PVC pipe was cracked. Oh, I can take care of that, I thought. Well I got the PVC and go to remove the sink basket and the thing just would not move. It was so rusted it essentially fused into one giant piece. I had to call a plumber and that was $300 for what should've been under $10 of parts.
I felt a little better when he was swearing at the thing knowing I wasn't just an idiot and that it was actually something that required more tools than I had.
Still, it kinda sucks when you save $10 on fiber bars and snacks and drinks or something to then get a $300 bill to get your house in the state that it was before. :-/
@Battra92, Can I borrow a feeling?
@Battra92, man, that's a bummer about the pipe!
@Rose, Could you send me a jar of love? LOL
@Lindsay B, it is but that's what emergency funds are for. But I learned a little bit too.
In case anyone is confused:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fmj5TWxxog
@Battra92,
I think the best part of decluttering via ebay (or FB marketplace or Offer up) is knowing that your item is going to be used instead of languishing at a thrift store or landfill.
Oh my goodness - you got Dotted. Dot's pretzels are *amazing* and addictive. Please, for your own good, don't ever buy the home-style ones in the red bag. They will take you by the hand and lead you down a lovely-tasting garden path that leads to blown grocery budgets (they aren't cheap!) and water weight gain from the delicious, yummy sodium. There's also a...(hushed voice) honey mustard flavor. Don't do it. Just don't.
Anyway...Dot's Pretzels. I don't know what sort of magic they bake into those things, but they're easily the best pretzels in existence.
@Lauren, I like the spicy ones. And right, they are not cheap but I do like the premise (if it is true) about the lady who developed them.
@Lauren, Supposedly tons of MSG.
Auntie Anne's been selling cinnamon sugar pretzels for decades.
If cinnamon sugar pretzels become a thing, I'll have to double down on ignoring free samples as that sounds like sweet savory deliciousness!
We're traveling in Nashville and Franklin, TN, with our daughter and her family this week, so my five frugal wins all pertain to that-
1) We're eating and sharing just one meal out a day, in that the portions here have all been enormous, plus having just plain old free water to go along with. That has been a double win in that it has helped with calorie control as well!
2) We hit up a Visitor Center first thing and picked up a really terrific free self guided walking tour booklet that we have been enjoying over multiple days.
3) Also from the Visitor Center, we picked up discount coupons for some of the local historic building tours.
4) We've been taking the grandkids to a different and free park each morning, and are ranking them together afterward, which has been fun.
5) Found a nearby farm that was kid friendly, plus had a picnic and playground area. Baby animals galore, because it's Spring, and a great time was had by all for very little outlay at $12 per person. We were there for over three hours, which I consider a frugal win overall!
@Tamara R, Now I feel totally wistful because I'd forgotten about the wonderful times we had each spring bottle feeding lambs etc at a local farm. I remember saying, "She's two months old; surely I don't have to pay entrance for her?" Why do they have to grow up?
@Rose, We were able to pet and nuzzle four just born, 10 hour old baby goats, which was crazy amazing. Their little tails were wagging like crazy, just like and dog's, and they bleated forlornly whenever we took a break in our petting. Magical for all. 🙂
@Tamara R, We used to have Babydoll Southdowns, a miniature sheep breed. They were SOOOOO stinking cute, especially the too tiny to be believed newborns. Not very smart though---the male died when he went headfirst into a feed bucket and smothered. He had eaten out of that feed bucket since birth...
@Lindsey, I'm not laughing, you're laughing!
OK, I am laughing too.
@Tamara R, touring historic buildings is my favorite thing to do! Also, parks in Tennessee are wonderful. We went to one near Johnson City that had a Narnia theme. No entry fee!
Frugal things
- Used a gift card I received pre-Covid for date night to cover the cost of movie tickets and snacks.
- Picked up burritos from food truck instead of going for a sit-down dinner after the movie.
- Contacted Walmart customer service to complain about the excessive wait time for curbside drop off of a return and they gave me a $10 credit as an apology.
- Purchased Easter candy on sale.
- Brought lunch to work every day and cooked the majority of our meals at home.
Five Frugal things:
- we had a birthday party for my son turning three but didn’t bother with decorations (except for two plastic tablecloths with construction vehicles on them), party favors, or special games. Yet, he and his friends had a blast. I’m going to try to keep these things as simple as possible for as long as I can!
-We ate leftovers and various meals from the freezer a few times this week.
-I’ve been turning over ripe bananas into lentil banana muffins, which is an upgrade to the bananas, in my opinion
-my husband made his last tuition payment for his doctoral studies, which means we have made it through 2 bachelor’s degrees, 1 masters of divinity, and 1 doctorate with no student loans. While the degrees are not necessarily frugal, the lack of student loans definitely is.
-I’ve saved up a bunch of shell oil station rewards to get $.45 off per gallon when I fill up later today.
@Hannah, It's too late now, but I once made a cake for Son's birthday using some of his tiny toy construction vehicles (after washing them of course) with the vehicles digging, dozing etc dark cookie crumbs.
He is turning 30 this year. Maybe it's time for Construction Cake Part Deux.
@Hannah, yay for simple birthday parties! I have a two year old and that's my plan/hope too. We'll see how long I can hold out!
@Hannah, lentil banana muffins???
@Hannah,
Congratulations on the academic achievements!
We have three bachelor degrees, one M.B.A., and one Ph.D with zero loans. They were all from land-grant schools except for the M.B.A. which was from one of the most expensive universities in the U.S.
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, yes! They’re an excellent recipe I found online that’s better (in my opinion) than banana bread!
@Goo, they’re mostly my husband’s degrees (I only have a bachelors) but I’m still very relieved that we made it without student loans.
Congratulations to you as well!
@Rose, I actually made him a construction cake with Oreos for dirt etc and he loved it.
I think your son's 30th definitely calls for a second construction cake!
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, I would also like more info on these muffins….
Dot's pretzels are so good! Our local grocery store and Target carry them by the checkout aisle. At our house, an open package is an empty package, so I mainly buy them for road trips or parties.
I forgot to add: I keep meaning to try re-planting green onions, and I forget every time. We don't buy them as often as yellow onions. I do save them for broth or compost them, so it's not a total loss.
@Kayla, I put the little bottom parts back in the plastic bag in the fridge until I am ready to plant them in dirt. They often start growing in there, similar to how the whole onions will grow taller in the bag. Amazing will to grow in green onions!
Unfortunately found that trying to sprout them in water was very smelly.
Yes to the smelly! Unless you change the water frequently, the onion odor is terrible.
I'm drawing a blank other than my normal, and while normal frugalities are important, they're also boring.
*Normal wins-- made bread, made meals (only one meal out with my husband on physical therapy day...and that was from a grocery store), mended a couple pieces of clothing, used the library, wore thrifted clothes.
*Fails--Kristin's comment reminds me that I haven't done any spring planting. My husband and I bought coffee and scones as a treat while we were out for my therapy. My therapy isn't frugal; insurance only covers about $25 of the $200+ session. Of course, I have notice a biggish improvement this week in my smile, and I can't tell you how good a closer-to-normal smile feels. My husband had some books/music impulse buys; books are always our downfall.
And this is completely off subject, but I came across something interesting in our civics reading this week with regards to frugality. I think it has implications beyond government. (I had to look up sumptuary laws.) In "Thoughts on Government," John Adams wrote: "The very mention of sumptuary laws will excite a smile. Whether our countrymen have wisdom and virtue enough to submit to them, I know not; but the happiness of the people might be greatly promoted by them, and a revenue saved sufficient to carry on this war forever. Frugality is a great revenue, besides curing us of vanities, levities, and fopperies, which are real antidotes to all great, manly, and warlike virtues."
@Jody S., Sumptuary laws really pissed off Adam Smith, as I recall.
@Rose, I haven't read much Adam Smith, but I can tell you that I think I wouldn't like them either. I'm all good with being frugal and a good steward UNTIL somebody tells me I CAN'T buy something. Same goes for dieting. I am fine with eating healthy foods until I put restrictions on my eating (i. e. no sugar, no desserts, etc.).
@Jody S., Besides, I like "vanities, levities, and fopperies."
Four Frugal and one Frugal Fail
1. We sold our house! So frugal because we already purchased a new one, so it looks like we won't have to make two mortgage payments now! Now to just hope the paperwork goes through all the way!
2. I have been saving boxes for years. I think I always knew that I would not be staying in this house forever, so whenever one of the office paper boxes became empty, I would grab it and throw it in the attic. They are coming in handy now!
3. I made an inventory on the food we need to use up before we move. Lots of strange meals are in my future!
4. I tried Flashfood for the first time. Apples and yogurt. Neither I nor the clerk could find the figs I ordered, so I'll get a refund on those.
Frugal fail (maybe?)
We were not really expecting to buy and sell houses at this point and had already purchased plane tickets to Italy for my partner's birthday in June. We made the hard decision to not go to Italy this year with the excitement of home buying. I started the cancelation process for the tickets, but almost a month later, I'm still waiting for them to decide how much to give to us. I should have purchased insurance!
@Angel, Congrats on the old house selling so no double mortgages!
@Lindsey, Thank you! I feel like the real estate fairy dust was sprinkled all over us. I'm so thrilled!
I agree on homemade crackers. I made these amazing paprika-rosemary crackers twice as a teenager, and...well, I ate them all very quickly and the work-to-enjoyment ratio wasn't right. So I've never made crackers since!
1. Mending: I darned some holes on a pair of jeans, hemmed a pair of my daughter's pants so she can start wearing them now, and replaced a set of buttons on a shirt. Why oh WHY would a manufacturer put spherical buttons on the back of a shirt for a toddler? They take naps; the buttons will hurt! Girls' clothes can be so frustrating.
2. We bought a new throw blanket and some throw pillow covers from Ikea. Why was this frugal? Because buying four pillow covers and a throw was cheaper than buying the fabric to make them. Mending and altering saves money; making things from scratch generally doesn't.
3. I cleaned the apartment. I had you in mind, Kristen--in your series on contentment ages ago, you talked about how cleaning your house is the cheapest way to feel better about it! So true.
4. I passed the first part of my big exam (the written part, which is the harder part.) Considering how much it costs to write it--$5000 Canadian, plus two hotel stays--it's definitely better not to have to do it twice.
5. I am trying to use up odds and ends in the fridge. Last night I used the end of a butternut squash, half an onion, half a bunch of asparagus and two zucchini (all roasted; that would make a pretty weird soup.) Today's project is rescuing some kale.
@Meira@meirathebear, Congratulations on passing your exam! A great relief for you, I'm sure.
I work at a farm store, and those cinnamon sugar Dot’s pretzels fly off of our shelves…. So you’re not the only one giving in to their goodness! 😉
Homemade crackers are easier if you roll out the dough with a pasta machine. Which of course you paid a dollar for at a yard sale.
And I don't even like pretzels but cannot resist Dot's. You were in the grip of a force more powerful than the strongest woman!
Both kiddos are sleeping so I get to post earlier than usual, woo hoo!
Mine are almost all food-related this week:
1. I received a free cold brew coffee sample (you had to upload a receipt and get refunded, which I made sure to do immediately after purchase).
2. I was able to return some baby clothes and diapers that were too small (people have been giving us not only meals but also gifts) and used the resulting gift card for better options. People are so kind, but we already have a ton of baby clothes (older brother barely wore them and babies outgrow stuff so quickly).
3. We’ve managed to cook at home or eat simple foods (salads, sandwiches) in between people bringing meals via Meal Train.
4. In a quiet moment when DH had both kiddos (a newborn and a toddler, bless him!), I cooked up three kinds of dried beans and froze portions to help with our “eat simple and fast foods at home” plan.
5. Speaking of food, we don’t typically eat a lot of meat but many of our Meal Train meals are meat-centric. We’ve been able to stretch out the meat by adding in lots of salad, beans, etc. which helps the meals last longer (hurrah for leftovers!) and also stretches out the meat. I think we will freeze some of our most recent meal of pulled pork to save it as a treat for later.
@Lindsay B, I know a newborn and a toddler isn't easy, cause I had them too, but I just expected my husband to take care of his own kids.
@Rose, actually DH is wonderful and takes both kiddos all the time to give me a break!
@Rose, I agree and get royally pissed off when I hear a father say "I'm babysitting the kids". NO YOU ARE NOT BABYSITTING!
Filled car up w gas and used Hy-Vee points to save $.20 per gallon of $3.20 fuel.
Chai latte at home.
Packed suppers for work.
True confession which may be TMI, but since I've aged, I have an occasional "drizzle" issue. Meds help some. I bought washable pads and have found them to be very comfortable. They are no trouble to launder so they are a frugal win.
That's all I've got today.
@Chrissy, I use fabric washable pads for my period and find them much more comfortable than disposables. I'm glad you've found them to work well for you too!
@Chrissy, I started to use Thinx underwear a few years ago for the same issue. I didn't want to take another medication. I can laugh, sneeze and cough without worry.
@Chrissy, Well, you were good for a laugh today---my nose runs all the time in winter (still winter here) and I call it the drizzles. So, I thought you were putting pads under your nose instead of using kleenex. I finally figured it out, but in my mind I pictured a woman with a pad glued under her nose.
@Chrissy, Ah, those damn Drizzles. 18 months ago I finally went to see a Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist (the jobs I didn't know existed continue to confound and delight me when I find out about them!!). Believe it or not, the exercises she gave me fixed the problem! Some were kind of modified Cat-Cows (with knees more speed and toes touching) and there were others that I currently can't remember but am thinking I need to. Kegel's are highly overrated for solving this particular problem....
I am Uber frugal but treat myself to one bag of Dots per month. Big love. I like the spicy savory ones.
Dot's Pretzels are hard to resist! I've also tried to make my own crackers over the years, and every attempt was a fail. One time even the dog wouldn't eat them (they were an herbed concoction).
1. My husband gets a shot in his eyeball every 6 weeks (I wince just typing that). A stronger shot is now needed that costs considerably more. Through the recommendation of his doctor, he contacted the Good Days Foundation and will be receiving up to $4,200 of annual assistance from them. I thought for sure we wouldn’t qualify but we did. Check out https://www.mygooddays.org/ – a national non-profit that provides financial assistance to patients diagnosed with chronic or life-altering disease.
2. Used an old razor that I had saved to de-pill a sweater.
3. Went to my county’s monthly fix-it clinic where they sewed some items that I could not do on my own sewing machine.
4. Ordered a salad at a restaurant and had enough leftovers for two more meals.
5. Made two more loaves of homemade bread and got some unwanted adventure. When I used the microwave to melt the butter, it exploded (the butter, not the microwave) and butter was dripping everywhere. I thought of all of you when I took a rubber spatula to rescue as much as I could. My helpful dog positioned herself under the open microwave door where the butter was dripping onto the floor. Then, after I used the stand mixer to knead the bread, I couldn’t get the bowl off the stand. Eventually I ran very hot water and added it to the bowl to expand (or contract?), which allowed me to eventually twist the bowl off.
@MB in MN,
Bless your husband's heart. I had an aunt and a great-niece who both received shots in the eyes, and it makes me wince writing that, too. It's wonderful that he is able to get some help with the cost! Thanks for linking Good Days - I currently get assistance with my bi-monthly Crohn's shots, but I might need another assistance one day, so I'll check into that!
I need to try planting the ends of green onion also! If anyone has tips on super easy gardening, I welcome these. I have two small beds waiting for me to decide what to do with this year. The leeks and Brussel sprouts I planted last year did not do well; really, I only tend to get lettuce and tomatoes reliably (plus a multitude of herbs).
1. I remembered to check the Safeway app before getting a few groceries. The app had a popup message about rewards expiring at the end of the month. I reimbursed them for 20 dollars off the bill.
3. Have had so many party leftovers in the house and preparing to leave for a few days trip, lessened our regular grocery store purchases two weekends in a row now.
3. Finished my first knitting project, a vest for myself, which I've been working on since before Christmas. I'm planning knitting projects around yarn that I already own.
4. Attended a bridal shower this weekend. The dress code was floral brunch, and I just so happened to have the perfect dress in my closet that I had bought in a consignment shop. Sometimes it's good to just buy that perfect dress with no occasion on the horizon. Also found a dress to wear for the wedding, marked down 75%.
5. For a bridal shower gift, purchased a recipe box and wrote down some of my favorite recipes on a few cards. The bride and I come from a shared cultural background but I know she hasn't grown up with these recipes.
I don't make regular crackers either, but I have a recipe for cassava crackers, from who knows where, and it just requires rolling the dough out in a rough oblong, no cutting, no straight edges. One bakes it then breaks it into pieces when it cools. Those, I'll make.
Five Frugal Things:
1. The Macy's in the mall in the town where I work just closed. I went there last Friday, when they had 3 days left to be open. There was very, very, very little left, but I found one lonely bra in my size, originally $48. I also bought three tough-chewer pet toys (originally $14.99 each), a dog harness ($19.99), and some genuine pearl drop earrings ($59.99) for a grandchild's future birthday or Christmas. $29.66 for all including tax. The only fail there is the harness was too small, although I went by the measurements. It was marked down to $1.91, so I don't feel too badly about that. I'll give it to someone who can use it.
2. I picked loquats from my tree, de-seeded them and canned them in light syrup. I used my steam canner, which saves time and water, for the very first time. I had the lids, rings, jars, and sugar already.
3. My neighbor brought over cleaned and deboned fish that he just caught, and I was happy to accept it.
4. Seeing Kristen's symphony dress, I realized I no longer had a nice black dress. I knew the chances of needing one for a funeral before too long were pretty good, and as it turned out, I was right. I found a classic black dress in excellent shape on ThredUp for about $12 on sale. I'll wear that to my b-i-l's memorial service in April, and for any other occasion calling for a nice black dress.
5. I bought a big bag of grapes and as soon as I got them home, I washed them in water and vinegar then let them dry before putting them, de-stemmed, in a bowl in the refrigerator. I hate throwing out moldy grapes, so I started doing this after reading about it here.
I was gifted 48 eggs from my neighbor. They are fantastically delicious and were entirely free.
My God sent brother in law is only billing us an hourly rate for the work on our home which will save us thousands.
I called Wayfair since the tub I ordered from them was supposed to arrive by Mar 22nd and it has not. I spent ten minutes on the phone and got a corrected shipping date and a refund of $260.
I ordered my new master bedroom furniture on sale saving 30%. We had to replace it after the damage to our home.
There are a few other items of furniture that I will have to order as well and I am planning to do so while they are on sale for 30% off. I am also ordering from a manufacturer which offers a military discount that will save us another 12%.
My family tried making crackers during covid with terrible results! We decided to always buy storemade ones after that! I had a big baking fail this week when I tried making cookies with fewer ingredients. I thought they would still turn out okay. They didn't! I still ate them though.
My biggest frugal win this week has been signing up for various free classes. Taxes are high in Denmark, but I mostly don't resent it as it pays for classes such as these which are accessible to everyone.
Having said that, I'm glad to be getting some tax back in my next paycheck after it was discovered that I had paid too much! Another frugal win is a general payrise - there is only so much I can do on a fixed income.
I found some cheap flights and bus tickets for a trip I want to take next month.
Finally, I...
Cooked at home every night.
Line-dried clothes.
Used the library.
I LOVE Dot's pretzels. I buy the big bag at Costco. Satisfies my craving for a salty crunchy snack. I eat less of them than I would potato chips. I shouldn't keep those in the house. I have little self control around chips.
5 Frugal Things
1. Returned a blouse to Meijer. It didn't fit right. Made me sad to look at it hanging in my closet, rebuking me for eating too many Dot's pretzels. Ahem.
2. Bought pants for my kid at Costco. One is fleece lined so it was a reduced price. Two pairs of pants for around $40.
3. Packed lunches from home for work.
4. Ate leftovers. My family helped with that.
5. Bought a large brisket at Costco. We're going to cut it in thirds to have for future meals. We've never smoked a brisket so if the first one doesn't come out great, we'll not have wasted as much money. $3.99 per pound is a dandy price regardless so I'm happy with that.
@Molly F.C., I've never had a bad brisket using the basic Traeger recipe off the website. Brisket is the bomb diggity. Good luck.
@Karen., thank you!
1. “Shopped” my closet (again!) and found a 2nd good skirt to go with the springtime jacket I bought from the “GW Boutique” (aka Goodwill thrift store) for Easter Sunday next week. I didn't like the skirt I first thought would go with the dress (that skirt was also from my closet), so I went back and found another, better one I already own. This one is a long full skirt trimmed with white lace. I either wear something I already have and just change it up a bit, or get a secondhand garment from a thrift store or consignment store, for my Easter attire. It’s cheap, it’s frugal and I enjoy doing this a whole lot more than shelling out lots of money for something from a dept. store. One of the local charities that operate a thrift store once asked people to buy 2ndhand Easter outfits or wear what they already have, and donate the amount they'd usually spend on this holiday's attire to help the poor.
2. Our area will be in the “path of totality” for the upcoming solar eclipse. The merchants are milking this for all it’s worth, it’s supposed to be a big deal, and predictions are we’ll have a crowd of eclipse viewers come into town. It’ll be a school holiday. So I let the manager at my retail store PT job know I’ll be happy to work that day.
3. Instead of buying a special T-shirt for Eclipse Day, I scrounged around in my closet. Found an old t-shirt from a Moody Blues concert that’ll work. It features one of their album covers which has an outer space scene on it; I figured that’s close enough. Also bought a pair of eclipse viewing glasses for 99 cents just in case I don’t get scheduled to work that shift.
4. Was gifted some free coupons to use at a burger joint here in town. No purchase necessary if you get the items listed on each coupon. Got myself a kiddie burger meal and two breakfast wraps, all at different times. That’s 3 meals and counting…I still have some more coupons. Love getting free meals; I just go through the drive-thru and take it home; I have drinks at home so I don’t buy them a the burger joint.
5. Here I go again: I bought another coffeemaker just like the one I had that quit working (I think I mentioned this a few weeks ago), at the aforementioned Goodwill store. It was $4.99 but I had a 20%off coupon. That took almost a dollar off the price. I had earlier gotten a Keurig at the same store for $7.14 (thanks to another 20% discount coupon) but it doesn’t produce enough coffee to fill up my large (non-Stanley) commuter cup, just regular coffee mugs, unless I make coffee 4 time in a row– that takes too long in the morning. Oh, and I got another large commuter cup at another thrift store for $2, as opposed to the $14 or higher price they usually charge at regular stores. It holds 2-3 cups, just perfect for my 4-cup coffeemaker. Oh, and since I got the same model coffeemaker as before, I now have two glass coffeepots that’ll fit it. Woo-hoo!
@Fru-gal Lisa, I really like that idea about donating the cost of a new Easter outfit. Though I have such happy memories of wearing a new dress for Easter every year. Somehow they always seemed to be lavender or yellow.
@Fru-gal Lisa,
I just had to smile a bit at the Moody Blues tee shirt!
@JD, Knights in White Satin?? (Or was it Nights in White Satin?)
@JD, and save that t-shirt. I bought a Moody Blues t-shirt back in the early 90s. Warp to now, seeing one member of the band. The quality of the t-shirt is NOT the same. And I was told the smallest adult size they sell is medium.
@Fru-gal Lisa,
My area actually has "Goodwill Boutique" stores, different from the usual GW stores. They're generally smaller stores, and have "upscale" clothing and household items. I'm guessing the donation centers funnel the goodies to these stores. The prices, while still generally lower than retail, are higher than regular GW stores.
I don’t blame you on the pretzel splurge. The honey mustard flavor is pretty tasty as well!
1) We have a bunch of seedlings growing in the window, and almost all of them have sprouted. We have a tray of "mystery" seedlings, from seeds that got loose from their envelopes & were rolling around. Can't wait to see what that tray yields.
2) In addition to using fresh mint in salads, I picked & dried a bunch yesterday, and then used our mortar & pestle to break it down for our dried mint supply. My husband goes through this regularly for his maast-o'khiar (Persian yogurt & cucumber sauce that you serve with various dishes).
3) Picked thyme, oregano & rosemary for a chicken dish on Sunday.
4) DH & I received our annual bonuses last week, and I put everything into CDs for the boys college. We are too close to college to be able to invest, so luckily, CDs are paying very well.
5) Continued my decluttering project around the house. (Goal of getting rid of 500 items by EOY). I made a lot of progress on the giving away front, and sold three items on eBay.
A stinging fail: took apart my oven, to clean with vinegar & water. Removed door to have better oven access and clean the door. Could. Not. Reassemble. Not enough info from manual, customer help line, or YouTube. Repair man took $100 off his fee to put door back on, for “only” $150. For 10 minutes work. He did show us how to do it, but humble pie is on the menu.
Frugal wins:
Free adult events at the public library.
Packed lunches daily.
Unraveled two knitting projects that went south a good ways in, making way for better work with beautiful yarn.
Peeled DH’s favorite homemade flannel robe off him, for much needed mending. He loves it enough to just keep wearing it.
@Kristina, it takes me a long time to recognize when a knitting project just needs to hit the frog pond. Good for you for tackling two and rescuing the yarn!
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, hits the frog pond - I love it!
For the non-knitters in the crowd, unraveling a lot of knitting is called frogging because you "ripit, ripit, ripit" which said quickly sounds like "ribbit."
Last week I frogged several inches of lace around the plain square of a shawl. I just keep making mistakes when increasing the pattern and I'm not sure I counted right to begin with. I've learned from my mistakes and now it's going like a charm.
@Kristina, Thank you for saving me from removing our oven door, which I was going to do this weekend. I will just work around it. $150!?
I put a new blade in my henson razor. The replacement blades are only $.08!
We rented movies from the library. (I finally saw "I am Legend." It was very tense and scary.)
I purchased gasoline from Costco when we were in town.
I dressed my daughter in hand-me-down baby clothes. (She wore an outfit that I wore as a baby 40 years ago.)
I submitted reimbursement claims.
I'm in Florida visiting my father, so I'm not paying for much but what I am paying for is noticeably more expensive.
No checked luggage for the flight and I packed lunch, buying only a soda after going through security. (Damn security theater.) My roll-on was bought new, chosen for its very high quality. My previous one lasted me at least 25 years; I expect no less from this one.
Le Creuset replaced my broken oval Dutch oven. A new one is $400. I can't cook in the old one any more - risk of glass shards from the chipped enamel - so I'm looking for an alternate use.
My MacBook Pro is dying. The battery holds only about 90 min charge and the keyboard and trackpad have frozen twice in the past month. I solved the first by Freecycling an extra power cord so I can use my computer both at my desk and slouched on the couch. I avoided buying a computer in a rush before visiting my father by packing a mouse and keyboard. The really frugal part? The laptop is 8-9 years old.
PS: always keep a mouse and keyboard around if you can. They're useful in computer emergencies.
The half-price rosemary plant I bought is thriving. The from-the-supermarket scallions I planted are thriving. The half-price cilantro died but not before I got enough for it to be a savings over buying cilantro from the supermarket. Where I live, a cilantro plant is only a little more than a bunch of cilantro.
@WilliamB, Make the Le Creuset into a planter. I'm trying hard to resist one of their new spring flower pans, the braiser. sigh.
@Rose, only if I have a drill powerful enough to drill holes in the bottom. I never have luck with non-perforated pots.
@WilliamB, Take it to a machine shop.
@WilliamB, you could put a layer of pebbles in the bottom of the pan, then place a few smaller potted plants in and use moss to fill in the gaps.
@WilliamB, yep - that circa 1999 iMac keyboard continues to do duty at my house too. My track pad went way south on my 10 year old Mac Book so I sucked it up and bought a new one.
Fun fact for you — Dot's is a South Dakota product!
Kirsten, I love Dots pretzel! It's good to treat yourself every now and then.
My 5 Frugal Wins
1) Shoveled the driveway a couple times instead of using the snow blower which uses gas. Extra bonus was that I got 2 hours of exercise each time.
2) Stayed home a few times instead of going to events because of the weather so saved on gas again.
3) Eating at home instead of going out. Slowly clearing out food from the fridge and cupboards.
4) Fixed clothes and little nic nacks. Mended tons of clothes with tiny holes in them. My kids are notorious for having holes in their pants. Fixed the soles of my sneakers that tore while running on the tread mill with gorilla glue. We'll see how they hold up. Mended a hole in the plastic shower curtain where the rings hung. Fixed a toy necklace with glue.
5) Continue to read books borrowed from the library, watched free movies and shows through roku, had local walks and went to the playground with the kids, batch run errands, used ibottta and fetch, etc.
Those Dot's pretzels are SO good! Try the original spiced ones, too.
I bought the savory version of those pretzels when I hosted book club a few months back. 🙂
Borrowed books and DVDs from the library. My son also won a free book from a winter reading bingo sheet.
Found a couple of cheap clearance Pokemon Lego sets. One was holiday themed and I've put back for Christmas for my oldest.
Used Kroger fuel rewards for .30 off per gallon.
Went to a biannual kids consignment event. I spent $26 and got a large (taller than my toddler) car race track that he absolutely loves, 3 boat toys, a DVD, and about 20 clothing items.
Hit up Goodwill after and found a Mario circuit hot wheels track for $2.99 (people at the consignment were charging $20+) my oldest loves. When I got it home I also found two Spirographs stuck in the bag.
The track was missing a piece that holds a track upside down. Was able to find a file online and my husband had a replacement piece printed in no time.
Got my seeds started indoors.
1. Ordered enough canvases to get free shipping and added in something one of my drawing students requested so he can also get free shipping
2. Gas down the hill was 20 cents less per gallon, so I saved $2.60. Yippee, “only” 4.99 per gallon.
3. Slammed through several books on Libby. I was happy to discover that I can simply type "memoir" in their search bar and found an enormous list to work off of.
4. The piano tuner declined to charge me because only the middle section needed to be tuned. He said he'll "catch me next time". I gave him a book, which made both of us happy (I seriously over-ordered in 2014).
5. Bookpecker summarizes non-fiction books in 5 bullet points. It is free. (Thank you @Beth from VA for this tip!) Maybe I can just read summaries on some of the books on my TBR book tower and then sell or give away those.
One of the funny things about getting older is that your mind gets stuck on years/decades old prices and you are continuously shocked by current day prices. Mostly now I just put my regular stuff in the shopping cart and just pay whatever the cashier asks for. A lifetime of frugality has left us able to swallow current grocery prices.
But when you mentioned $9.00 for a bag of pretzels, I thought I was going to need a swooning couch. 😀 😀
@Anne, I agree-- I would at least have expected them to be chocolate covered.
No one has mentioned that yet; perhaps a new market for Dot's?
Guys, Anne will be taking to her bed to deal with the shock of my splurge. lol
The bag is over two pounds, but I recognize that that is still a little pricey. 😉
A new Lidl opened up near me, and I was reminded of how they sell almost identical products as Aldi, but in a range of about fifteen cents-two dollars more expensive. However, they do have excellent loss leaders if you buy ONLY those.
So,
1. Went to Aldi and bought spring break treats and also confirmed that the Lidl loss leaders were the best price.
2. Went to Lidl and spent 38 bucks on the following: 10 lbs of chicken legs, 5 lbs of strawberries, 2 lbs of blueberries, 2 lbs of red grapes, 2 lbs of butter, 2 lbs of cream cheese, and 4 lbs of sugar.
3. Managed to fix the fridge that was threatening to die, and also priced options for if it does go. Also rearranged items so that we would have the least amount of food loss if it went. In case anyone's interested, the internet claims that basically all condiments can be frozen if necessary, as long as there is enough head space for expansion.
4. Drove up to visit my college roommate and stayed at her house instead of a rental house. We did a mixture of free and low cost things while I was there, including using an old spa gift certificate she had which made two mineral water soaks and two 90 minute massages cost only 6.50 out of pocket.
5. Sort of frugal fail? The blueberries from Lidl tasted kind of gross like they were starting to mold, so my roommate and I tried to soak them in vinegar with no improvement noted, so we fed them to her chickens. I still have the other lb here at home and I'm going to see if I can salvage them another way like by cooking them or something, but I was disappointed and I think the take away is don't buy fruit out of season even if the price is decent.
I have a fail this week too
1. I made my first ever eBay purchase, it saved me $18 compared to buying retail.
2. Chose the slower shipping on Amazon for a $2 credit.
3. Got another prompt pay discount by paying a bill early.
4. The usual… baked bread at home, coffee at home, packing lunches etc
5. Thrifted some clothing for my kids
6. A fail related to making butter.
I made butter at home with fresh cream from a local farm, not cheap but not terribly expensive. I dumped down the drain all the leftover buttermilk from my first gallon of cream. Could have made it into cultured buttermilk or just used as is in pancakes.
@Natasha, Not really a fail, because you probably won't pour it out next time after the thought you put into it this time?
Freeze it in a container/s with lots of head space until you need buttermilk.
I’m with you on the Dots pretzels. I love them but haven’t tried the cinnamon sugar ones I will definitely get some. Also, Walmart have these and are cheaper than anywhere else!
All garden related here!
1. My two very small white poinsettias, purchased on clearance after Christmas at the grocery store, are still blooming. I suppose they could be an Easter decoration. They also last a long time in vases.
2. I have tons and tons of daffodils of various types blooming in my yard. Many are from clearance grocery store or WalMart super clearance plants that I purchased after Easter years ago. I figure anything that is hardy enough to be forced into bloom for a holiday might last in the ground.
3. Tulips are less dependable but sometimes survive. Last year, I bought a plant in poor shape and cut the tulips off it to make a bouquet and planted the bulbs outside. Will see if they bloom this year.
4. Easter lilies can be planted outside. I have at least one coming up this summer from previous years.
5. I only needed a very few basil seeds, so I got the dollar store pack for a quarter. I figure those seeds are also pretty hardy and prolific to be worth the companies packaging them.
Count me among those who made crackers a few times. They were delicious but my husband would eat the entire batch in just a few minutes. He lacks what my sainted father used to call "stopping sense." 😀
The frugal at my house included machine-sewing two matching old quilted throws together to make a throw for the daybed in our home office space. The colors go so well in that the room.
I also took a handful of register coupons to the grocery store and knocked 30% off the total. The register coupons are usually for crap but have been spot-on lately for stuff we actually use.
Took my son shopping at Marshall's for new shoes and found a pair of shorts he likes. The store had only pair, but a search of eBay later turned up enough to outfit him for summer with a 30% discount. The total cost was just a few dollars more than the store cost.
Mended another puppy-gnawed dog toy. Pulled a bag of pre-made burgers that had been too long in freezer out and cooked the meat in chicken stock with leftover frozen plain rice for the dogs. They get a few tablespoons on top of their kibble instead of canned food.
Started physical therapy for my hand arthritis, which is costing $60 a week in co-pays but the therapist is great and is giving me inexpensive assistive aids, like a foam handle for my toothbrush -- total game-changer for anyone with a fused thumb. Receiving items that actually work is saving me money in the long run.
Also, I'm not sure I would call that bag of pretzels a fail. It's a 35 oz bag, which means you paid .26/oz. If it were a more normal-sized bag like 16 oz, it would have cost 4.16 at that price per ounce. I think that's less than a one lb bag of plain pretzels would be at a regular grocery store, and maybe only a little more than the Aldi price, but you got a name brand in a fancy flavor, so call it a win. Now...if you were to leave the bag open because you passed out from overindulgence and 25 or so of the ounces went stale, then it might be a fail...unless, of course, you then crushed the stale ones up and fried them in butter to put on a salad or added them to a granola batch...what I'm saying is you are going to have to give us a lot more details regarding how you consume these pretzels before anyone can properly judge your final frugality score. 😉
@Becca, Or crushed the less fresh ones into some kind of pie crust or strawberry jello and whipped cream dessert. I seem to recall that from church potlucks of my youth.
The granola sounds like a good recovery plan.
Dot's pretzels are not frugal, unless on clearance.
enjoy those pretzels. you deserve them. never heard of that brand. was able to order them from walmart. there are no physical walmart stores in manhattan but we have stuff delivered a lot. only a small bag but i look forward to trying them. amazon had the big bags for outrageously expensive rates.
I remember happily taking your advice to not fool with homemade crackers. And I never looked back. 🙂
1) I did some hand sewing to repair a stuffed animal and a child's sweater while I was on a zoom. I really liked the combination of tasks as it is much more difficult to stay engaged in a zoom with nothing to do with my hands than it is an in person conference. I will plan to have hand sewing next time too.
2) I arranged two home exchanges last week for our summer travel. I also made flight reservations through a new (to me) cheap carrier that has just added our city. Then the price went down on one of the flights. They let me cancel for credit and then rebook with credit. So now I have the same flight I had already booked, plus credit toward another flight. I have two years to use that credit, so it sounds like a win win to me.
3) Last night's dinner included chicken wings my mother in law passed along to us. I don't love chicken wings--all that work for greasiness for very little meat. But free is free and the meat was good.
4) I shopped our business insurance and will save $900 annually.
Cinnamon sugar pretzels are easy to make. I've made them a lot.
@Connie, I've never made the cinnamon sugar pretzels, but when our sons were young, I used to make regular ones. They weren't as pretty as store-bought, but they tasted great.
Have made bagels twice. The first time they were wonderful. The second time they were like hockey pucks. Need to try again. I don't like the cheap ones and Einstein Brothers are way too expensive.
I feel like Dots came out of nowhere. Not sure if they are new or just boosted their advertising? My 5 year old was asking for them (YouTube ads), I bought the store brand version at Safeway (which were delicious) and he complained they weren’t the Dots brand. It starts so young!
Kristen your fail was about the same as my fail only mine was butter toffee cashews at Costco. Oh my lands they were tasty and I should never, ever shop while hungry.
I am in between lettuce plantings where I have plucked enough baby lettuce leaves and now have to wait for another week of growing, so I bought a pkg of very expensive romaine @ the restaurant supply ($5/6 heads). I promptly cut off the ends and plopped them into a small glass of water to sprout. I did this with celery as well. I have started a new batch of micro greens and will make some pita bread when the micro greens are at harvest stage.
When I was a teenager some 40+ years ago, my cousin and I spent an entire summer perfecting cracker recipes. We made wheat thins, cheese its, parm straws and pretzel chunks. We learned to invert (turn over) a cookie pan (1/2 pan), grease it with a little shortening and roll the dough thinly across the bottom of the pan. we took apart a meat tenderizer thingy and could poke a large bunch of crackers at a time. You bake them on the upside down cookie sheet. This was our fun after working the morning hours in her parents christmas tree farm. She and I are now GF and practice with different grains and flours. GF crackers are so expensive! Our latest recipe tastes like pizza in a cracker using freeze dried tomato, herbs and parmesan shreds.
C.C.A. - Jana - "confiscatory bureaucratic inept giant companies!" who don't know how to manage funds...ha ha ha ha so sickening! Kind of like the big energy companies in my state who are charging us 28% more for their incompetent lack of protections during a wildfire storm and now have been found at fault in courts of law...so we get the pleasure of paying for mitigation practices...atrocious. I had 4 friends loose their forever homes in those fires. I'm glad that they will receive repayment for the terror that they lived through and one dear friend, her story is truly terrifying.
Happy Birthday Ruth T!
Frugal Win: the Walla Walla Sweet onion seed that I planted in December are up and standing at attention. The little bare root starts are $10 a bunch this year, so I thought I would give the seeds a try. Yay!
Gave the neighbor a "kitchen experiment" hair cut yesterday. Her hairdresser increased her price 37%, so I told her that I would try...it is a cute bob, so I cut and she went home and styled it and was pleased. So her frugal win, but I get karma points.
Made beef bones/meat into a big kettle of beef vegetable noodle soup . I have been using vegetables and meat from freezer.
Also, family is eating applesauce and other foods we canned/frozen.
Lots of snowy rainy days so doing volunteer crafts at home.
Listening to free Libby audiobooks.
Got free Doritos with store coupon.
Hi, guys. Sorry I'm late to the party here, but it's been a dismal 24 hours since I posted my FFT on the NCA yesterday (see Katy's Monday post for that one). Fails on all levels since then, in order here from the minor to the major:
(1) I dropped a half-gallon Ball jar in the sink while I was washing it, with predictable results. It took forever to clean up the shards, and I got a few minor cuts in the process.
(2) Dentist appointment this morning. In addition to the filling and the parging I already knew I needed, I have now been told I need two new crowns. A pox on their new intraoral digital camera that shows every crack in every tooth. But since letting the cracked teeth go indefinitely would probably result in my needing two more implants, I'm going with the crowns as the lesser of the evils.
(3) And a massive societal failure: The city police are into their second day of combing the woods just east of our street for the body of a 5-year-old girl, allegedly dumped there by her mother, who drove halfway across town to do it. The story's too long to tell here, but it looks as if everyone from the family to the school to child protective services dropped the ball in this case. My neighbors and I are appalled beyond expression.
@A. Marie,
Your #3 is horrific. That casts a pall on everything for you, I'm sure. I cannot bear to think about things like that and yet I can't quit thinking about them while they are happening.
I'm sorry about your 1 and 2, as well. I once dropped a full bottle of Bailey's Irish Cream and it broke. Getting all the tiny glass shards out of the sticky mess was something I never want to do again.
@JD and A-M: How terribly sad and wrong with the little girl.
Clean up tiny glass bits by blotting with a damp paper towel, to get even things you can't see. I've read to use a piece of bread, but would think something might eat it later and get cut.
@A. Marie, what a heavy day - my heart hurts about the little girl too. Hope you and all your great neighbors and friends are hanging in there.
Poor little baby.
I had to clean up a pint Ball jar yesterday. I was drinking water out of it and Rescue Pup knocked it over. He gets very enthusiastic sometimes.
@A. Marie, Number 3 is appalling and heart breaking. Re: the dentist. When mine suggests something like a crown or root canal, I remind him of my age and how he has to specially medicate me even just for cleanings, and ask him to estimate if I will die before the tooth does.
@A. Marie, I went to the dentist for a cleaning, which never turns out to be just a cleaning anymore.
This time there was no cracked tooth, 4 in the last four years, 3 crowns and one pulled. No this time it was gum shrinkage so I have to have gum replacement surgery. Taking the skin for the graph from the top of my mouth. My sister who had this surgery said recovery is unpleasant.
But we need our teeth so thank goodness for modern dentistry.
I am very sorry about the little girl.
@Lindsey, love this. I insist upon taking a valium before getting any dental work done, for anxiety and claustrophobia. It has made my dental visits so much better. I used to get nitrous oxide just for cleaning.
I'm near to finishing up close to $10,000 worth of dental work. Thirty minutes ago the temporary cap? crown? tooth top? fell out. My next appointment isn't for two weeks, so I'm going to have to call tomorrow to beg for a squeeze in. Sigh!
@A. Marie,
Your #3 is appalling....there was a case on Long Island last year where a young boy died after child protective services, etc. had failed him. Stories like this make me feel physically ill. I hope you and your neighbors are leaning on each other during this difficult time.
I once dropped a brand new, pricey jar of fruit preserves on the sidewalk before I even got it home. I briefly considered straining out the glass shards, lol, but ultimately just tossed the whole thing. Sigh.
@Lindsey, My dad (a retired MD) knew his body was failing, and his teeth were held together through only excellent dental work and a heck of a lot of gold. During his last two years when he was on oxygen all the time, and becoming more frail and limited in his ability to handle outside activities, he chose to simply stop going to the dentist. At the time I was puzzled (the parents had always been so insistent about our teeth...), however I think he was pretty pragmatic about who he was and where he was in the arc of his life, and the dentist visits were darn uncomfortable for him because there was always something going wrong that required extensive repairs.
Now I realize that he, in his own quiet way, was making a choice to not spend one of his precious remaining days in pain and discomfort. I love your ask " ...estimate if I will die before the tooth does" - totally true!
I always say all the little things add up, so here are my frugal things....
1. My daughter gifted us two bags of meatballs in sauce that they couldn't finish. I used one and froze one for a future dinner.
2. My co-worker gifted me daffodils from her yard for my desk twice. They're beautiful and smell nice.
3. When buying items instore or online, I always try to use a reward or coupon if I can find them. Recently I saved $5 on dog food and shopped their clearance for dog treats. Also, used a $3 reward on recent Amazon order
4. My mom made Polish sweet breads and a Paska bread for us for Easter. My dad delivered them to my work <3
5. Hubby's coworker helped hubby hang drywall on our family room ceiling as well as gifting it to us. He got it free from his previous employer. He also gifted us 3 dozen eggs from his chickens. We told him we will help on his next project.
Dot’s. My husband once lost 15 lbs eating them. He only ate Dot’s Original Pretzels and Top the Tater for a whole summer! We call it the Dot’s and Top the Tater Diet.
1. Better pretzels than a timeshare! 🙁
1. I had not been out in my car in over 3 weeks because 1st I was sick and then I hurt my back. When I went out to my car yesterday it wouldn't start. Hubby put the battery charger on it at lunch(he comes home most days) and it started right up later.
2. A friend and I went to a murder trail at the library last night. It was a murder that took place in 1887 near where we live. They had actors act as the judge, witnesses, constable and prisoner. The audience was the jury. After it all, they told us the real outcome and what happened to everyone involved. It was a lot of fun.
3. My library finally started a seed library. I signed up for seeds.
4. I also signed up for several park and museum passes through June. I always sign up for Thursdays because my son is off and he enjoys going with me.
5. I got 2 free carts at Aldi today.
Not really frugal but still happy with the decision you inspired me to do. I have finally purchased a Spring CSA. It will make me eat more veggies and I am supporting farmers. Thank you for sharing with us.
I love planting out the ends of green onions in the garden. I’m at the point where I don’t need to buy them at the supermarket anymore. Just snip what I need and they keep growing back.
I stuck a couple green onions that were spent in the pot of dirt last year that my jalapenos were in...at the end of the season I put it around to the side of the house where I never see it. I walked over there the other day and had HUGE green onions...a whole planter full LOL
We've taken our lunches when we've been away from the house for work all week.
We chopped and dug the second tree trunk out of the yard ourselves. (thankfully that's the last of them!)
attended the free concert our town had at the amphitheater.
I was running the smoker for ribs so I filled the whole thing up at once and froze the extras.
I bought butter on sale and made ghee.
Frugal fail...used part of our eating out budget (and that budget is both caloric/junk food budget and monetary budget...we don't eat out much for health/salt intake)....the food wasn't great at all. But it was still nice to get out.
@Marlena, I thought you were going to say that the green onions were really hot because of jalapeño residue!!
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, I actually wondered if they would be when I saw them, but I didn't notice any extra flavor when I threw them in my fried rice.
1. I used some juice from an overripe grapefruit and some mushy berries and yogurt to make popsicles for my daughter.
2. I sewed my daughter's glove.
3. I used some overipe bananas to make banana bread for my kid's breakfast this week.
4. My husband picked up a pound of our favorite coffee off Buy Nothing. The coffee is $13/lb.
5. I have been slowly working on some painting projects. So far I painted a stool that we had in the basement to go with my son's desk, a small shelf that my husband built for our gym supplies, a large shelf my husband built for our kids' toys, and now I am working on our half bathroom. All the paint we already had. I can't imagine what a professional would charge for all of this.
Cook with leftovers. Make them into something else. Chicken a la king, stroganoff,
Easy and cost effective.
I wouldn't count buying tasty food as a fail. It will be a fail if you don't eat it and the bag goes stale!
I have made sourdough discard crackers - and that is where it's at for homemade crackers. They are much easier than crackers you have to roll out, but I still have only made them once or twice.
Frugals for the week
1. Free cone day at DQ!
2. Bought my daughter two pairs of pants at Goodwill for a total of $6. One pair was a nice pair of jeans.
3. Birthday freebies: Chick-fil-A milkshake and McD sandwich. And a BOGO meal at First Watch.
4. Bought a couple of new makeup items at Walmart, stacking paper coupons with Ibotta. They were originally $7 and $8 each but then $5 off each.
5. Had a lazy bum weekend of watching Netflix. Not totally the best use of time, but for $15/month... It's pretty cheap entertainment. Better than going to the movies!
A sort-of alternative and accidentally frugal thing in my life re-presented itself these past couple weeks. It usually happens when eating out with friends. I always go to a restaurant ready and intending to pay for myself. I also have very caring and generous friends, who occasionally decide they want to pay for my meal. I always clearly state that I am happy to pay. If they say no, I offer to pay the tip. If they say no thanks, I express my true gratitude, and then I DROP IT. I have seen where these situations cause some angst or tension among people who care about each other...and so unnecessarily, in my opinion. For me, the meal becomes unexpectedly frugal at the price of free 😉 For my friends, if they want to care for me in that way, rejecting their offer is denying them the gift of generosity. I want to remember my times with friends joyfully (plus the good meals 🙂 and I'm glad my mindset allows me to do that.
PS - two thumbs down to homemaking crackers here too lol. I am definitely team crouton and granola too! And enjoy those pretzels 😉 They should give you at least a free bag as a thank-you for your promotion of their product on your very successful blog! Hehe.
Dots are hard to resist. Don’t feel bad!
* Really cutting down on groceries for the next month or so. I am determined to use what we already have at home before buying more (except for fruits and veggies, milk and eggs). I'm a food hoarder...
* Working extra days here and there to compensate for my unpaid vacation coming up.
* Having extended family coming for diner for my DD bday. She choose the meal, chili with corn chips and garlic bread, which is frugal in itself, and my mother-in-law is bringing the dessert. I got great decorations from my Buy Nothing group.
To revive wilted kale and other greens. I immerse in my salad spinner full of cold water, trim the stems like you do with flower stems, and leave the stems and in water until plant revives. I have even bought kale and lettuce on a hot day at market and revived them. I was a market gardener for over 25 years so I learned lots of useful tricks
@Terry, I'm very interested in those useful tips!
1. We made all our meals at home and used up foods that needed to be eaten.
2. We didn't buy any new clothes for Easter. Everyone has nice stuff that fits.
3. We used materials we had to make paper bag puppets and (mini) hand sewn dolls.
4. I finally got the movie "Wonka" from our local library! I waited patiently so I can watch it for free.
5. I baked a birthday cake from scratch and we celebrated at home.
Hi Kristen!
I love the Dot's Pretzels, too. They are pricey, but yummy. I looked on Pinterest and found a copycat recipe that is very similar to the taste of Dot's. There were a bunch of copycat recipes for the Honey Mustard and Cinnamon Sugar pretzels.
I enjoy reading your blog. I am a fairly new subscriber. I found out about your blog from the Nonconsumer Advocate. Thanks for writing!
Aww, I'm glad you found me! Katy and I are kindred spirits, so I'm not surprised you enjoy both of our blogs.
Welcome, welcome!