January frugals

Happy New Year, everyone! I'm trying to up my frugal game (or at least be IN the game!) this coming year, so I thought I'd start the thread for the month. Yesterday I washed two loads of laundry and hung most of the stuff in the basement, so only needed one short dryer load. This morning, the hanging clothes were mostly dry, so I stuffed them in the dryer for about 5 minutes and they were fine. I don't like to leave things hang long in the basement when it's damp, lest they get musty smelling. Used up some zucchini that was on its last legs for zoodles, which we added to two boneless chicken thighs, a jar of red peppers, cream, and seasonings. A really tasty meal for three, for very little cost, and not a whole lot of effort. And we had three pots of coffee using two pots worth of grounds. I love coffee. . .

With DD's help, one Christmas towel that we don't use has become two hand-towels and a pot holder, which we will use (next year). I have a Halloween bath towel that will get the same treatment, as soon as I find it! That's all I have so far this year!

I vacillate between the pros and cons of owning vs renting. We currently own. Our sewer/water drain was mostly clogged the last few days.

We spent those 3 days using less water to avoid to much overflow in the backyard, until our son could get here to fix it. He has all the tools etc for anything related to houses and cars.

We paid him, and we also fed him lunch and I cut my grandson’s hair. First cut since June, he said. All outdoors and masked, as Phoenix has great weather for all this, but we also are the third worst USA city for covid right now.

Win-win, as it saved us about 400 over what a stranger would have charged. And we know our son does quality work.

I went to Big Lots and got laundry detergent as they have the best price in my area, as well as a couple other items.

I saved a lot of money during the pandemic. With the divorce it’s helpful.

To keep my outdated phone semiaccurate until I get a new one I manually set the date to 2010 since that year the days of the month fell on the same days of the week as 2021.

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Originally Posted by Yppej

To keep my outdated phone semiaccurate until I get a new one I manually set the date to 2010 since that year the days of the month fell on the same days of the week as 2021.

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Hey now, that’s an interesting hack.

I had two Ralph Lauren floral pillow cases that I got at a thrift shop, and the window at the new house has shutters on the bottom, and a tension rod on the top. I cut a slit at the top of both pillowcases and hung them from the rod as cafe curtains. They are the right length and cover the window for privacy.

Six years ago we painted the house in Michigan and I tried a couple of different gallons of paint before I hit the right color. I saved them and I am using them to repaint the painted floors in this new house.

So glad to use up old paint. Brought several cans with us and will be able to use all of it.

I haven't been to a grocery (or any) store since 12/23. Hubster did go get bacon and ketchup Thursday but that's it. And I won't need to go this week either.

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Originally Posted by Tybee

I had two Ralph Lauren floral pillow cases that I got at a thrift shop, and the window at the new house has shutters on the bottom, and a tension rod on the top. I cut a slit at the top of both pillowcases and hung them from the rod as cafe curtains. They are the right length and cover the window for privacy.

Six years ago we painted the house in Michigan and I tried a couple of different gallons of paint before I hit the right color. I saved them and I am using them to repaint the painted floors in this new house.

So glad to use up old paint. Brought several cans with us and will be able to use all of it.

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That's a good one, Tybee. It must have been tempting not to bring them with you, but decent paint is expensive.

My son gave me a couple more breathable masks, so I only landed up wearing the one I pricked holes in once. Still after maybe 10 minutes my face starts to feel hot and itchy under the mask. I continue to try home remedies for eczema and it is getting slightly better.

I found a new gas station on my way home from work with good prices.

Many home improvement projects are tempting me but DS has the house too messy to get contractors over. Who knew clutter could have a benefit? One issue is the hot water is coming out very rusty in the bathroom. Has anyone done a DIY fix for this? I can't see the condition of the pipes since they are encased in insulation but neither they nor the hot water heater are leaking. I am brushing my teeth in the kitchen sink as I don't want to ingest the dirty water.

The paralegal we used is a family friend so she did it for 250 versus 550. Filing fees were 260 so very cheap. I will use her for my will once the divorce is final.

TT, I'm impressed by your fortitude (and your cost-savings :D). Cut two more turtlenecks down (I used to LIKE turtlenecks, but now I won't wear them). Now that they are just long sleeved t-shirts or mock-turtles, I wear them for warmth under regular t-shirts when it's cold. This is my version of long underwear, lol - and much cheaper. Since I don't really do much standing around outside in the cold they are generally sufficient. It's OHIO, so really cold weather generally comes and goes quickly, lol. Saving water -but little money, we have a minimum water billing amount- by cutting my showers to every-other day and trying to be quick about those. So still looking for ways to keep myself from back-sliding. (If I posted to a back-sliding frugality thread, I'd have a lot more to say:|()

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Originally Posted by early morning

(If I posted to a back-sliding frugality thread, I'd have a lot more to say:|()

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LOL, I understand completely!

I've had to wait to post until I actually get a donation pick-up. Last time, I don't think driver even stopped. Next one is scheduled for February. Hopefully!

The alarm function is not working on my phone. I always set two alarms so if one does not go off I will not miss work. My second is my tablet. To replace the phone I have started using the oven timer. It isn't ideal since it won't work if the power goes out, but is better than buying an alarm clock or new phone while the old phone still has life in it.

Yppej, We use a kitchen timer for an alarm. No electricity, just a battery. I think it was under $10.

I didn't quite make it to two weeks between grocery trips because we ran out of drinking water but close and I spent the same amount as when I went weekly. Got 16 gallons of water so hoping I can go two weeks this time.

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Originally Posted by Yppej

I didn't quite make it to two weeks between grocery trips because we ran out of drinking water but close and I spent the same amount as when I went weekly. Got 16 gallons of water so hoping I can go two weeks this time.

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Why don't you just filter your water? We use a Pur filter on the tap. There are a number of different kinds that filter whatever you need out of your water. Seems like it would be more cost effective and convenient????

I have no desire to go shopping. I got a DSW coupon and didn't use it. I also got a TJ Maxx gift card for my birthday and have no desire to go there either though that will keep. I did call and they still are not letting people try on clothes which is very demotivating.

I hate the taste of my tap water. What I do is put it in a glass jug in the fridge and let it get really cold. That totally improves the taste. I don’t buy water for at home use except for distilled water to use in the Neti pot.

There is rust and city added fluoride, which can worsen the skin rash I have from wearing a mask, in my water. I switched to a nonfluoride toothpaste.

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Originally Posted by rosarugosa

That's a good one, Tybee. It must have been tempting not to bring them with you, but decent paint is expensive.

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DH was giddy this week because he took 7 gallons of primer paint from the alley where our neighbor left it. This neighbor was cleaning out his house before moving.

$210 worth of paint that is now going on the walls of my condo. Score!

Wow!

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Originally Posted by Tradd

I hate the taste of my tap water. What I do is put it in a glass jug in the fridge and let it get really cold. That totally improves the taste.

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DW fills a jug with tap water and lets it sit for a couple of days before she waters our plants with it. She sayd it lets the chlorine in the water off-gas. That taste has never been obvious to me in tap water, but it's harmless to do and, perhaps, other minerals are precipitating to the bottom of the jug.

We do have a filter on the kitchen faucet for drinking and cooking water. I notice our pots and pans don't have the same issue with our moderately-hard water that other fixtures in the house have. The only time I buy water is when I'm pickling food; using distilled water reduces some variables that can adversely affect the fermentation.

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Originally Posted by SteveinMN

DW fills a jug with tap water and lets it sit for a couple of days before she waters our plants with it. She sayd it lets the chlorine in the water off-gas. That taste has never been obvious to me in tap water, but it's harmless to do and, perhaps, other minerals are precipitating to the bottom of the jug.

We do have a filter on the kitchen faucet for drinking and cooking water. I notice our pots and pans don't have the same issue with our moderately-hard water that other fixtures in the house have. The only time I buy water is when I'm pickling food; using distilled water reduces some variables that can adversely affect the fermentation.

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DH does the same for water for our house plants.

About the $210 worth of paint —it’s wonderful because that paint is not sitting around our property waiting for its use down the road. It was used immediately. That’s what makes it great. But even then, that just covers the kitchen and the bedroom and a little bit of the living room it’s not covering the entire condo.

That’s great that it was a color you wanted. Lots of ugly paint in the world.

That is a really good frugal find, IL.

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Originally Posted by Teacher Terry

That’s great that it was a color you wanted. Lots of ugly paint in the world.

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It is primer, not top coat paint.

OK, this is a tiny little frugal compared to IL's big score (Congratulations!), but I looked at our grocery receipt yesterday, and the cashier charged me for 3 jars of peanut butter and I only got 2. I'm going to bring my receipt to the service desk next week and request my $3.00, but more importantly, I'm going to pay more attention at check-out and start looking at my receipts regularly.

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Originally Posted by rosarugosa

OK, this is a tiny little frugal compared to IL's big score (Congratulations!), but I looked at our grocery receipt yesterday, and the cashier charged me for 3 jars of peanut butter and I only got 2. I'm going to bring my receipt to the service desk next week and request my $3.00, but more importantly, I'm going to pay more attention at check-out and start looking at my receipts regularly.

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Down in SC at Bi-Lo, if that happened, they would actually give you the whole nine dollars and the peanut butter. I got a free pack of lemon cookies that way once!

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Originally Posted by Tybee

Down in SC at Bi-Lo, if that happened, they would actually give you the whole nine dollars and the peanut butter. I got a free pack of lemon cookies that way once!

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That's a very generous policy!

Well I went for groceries after only a week because I needed ingredients to try recipes in a book I got from the library 5-Ingredient Keto. So I am setting myself a goal to go two weeks from today.

Brought home some butternut squash a customer brought in.

So far my frugals have been to simply not shop. Last couple of months, it's just been gas and the grocery store.

Making much more use of ebooks from the library.

New house has godawful leaky front door front window area. We will not use this door until spring until we can build a porch to step out on. Am thinking of hanging a quilt there on a wooden closet pole to cover the whole thing and try to block the heat loss.

Mostly this is because my dog stares out of every available window and barks her head off at the squirrels and is a complete basket case. It is driving me insane.

Reusing packing materials. Since I'm doing mail order again, this isn't insignificant.

We're planning on buying many veggies this year in bulk, been working out the plan/timing for that.

We use onion skins (in the lunch bags I dry herbs in) to start fires. When you're going through 25 lbs of onions at once or the remains of that, you can fill a small lunch bag most of the way pretty easily. I love this, it reuses something i use anyway and creates a zero waste solution.

Because of COVID, we're consolidating trips much more than we used to.

For those that are mailing packages, are you aware that you can arrange for pickup of the packages from your door? Free if it’s the same time as your mail is delivered. You have to buy your postage online. This all works best if you’re using flat rate boxes or have your own scale. I did it for two items I sold online last week and it worked very well.

I've decided against a haircut this month, more for comfort than frugality. Wearing a mask causes my skin rash to flare up. It has now spread from around my mouth down my neck and into my upper chest. Anything touching it causes it to worsen.

Took a kitchen faucet back to Lowes, and they took it back, even though we bought it 6 months ago--we had not opened the box, it was for the new house, and the one here is fine, and I don't want to change anything in the kitchen. Husband took back a saw he bought that wasn't much better than the one he had. 180 dollars back. Of course spent 155 at Walmart on the same trip for things to keep me warm--bought an electric blanket and actually slept through the night without an asthma attack for first time since here.

Those were worthwhile returns, Tybee! I complained about some flashlight bulbs I bought on Amazon this week (two were burned out already, and one burned out very quickly) so I got my money back on those, not that it was much. Still I don't want to pay for *crap* we can't use! I trimmed my hair around the edges, since I don't plan on getting a cut anytime soon. We bypassed our bi-weekly take out this time around, electing to fix something quick at home, after a volunteer gig on Sunday. No major savings, but not much spending, either.

Not frugal - I went to make a recipe and the green beans were spoiled. Previously it was the chives. This only shopping for groceries every other week is something I haven't nailed down yet.