September frugals

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9-1-25, 2:35pm
early morning

September frugals

So for the last 4 - 5 years, our old dryer has been squeaking, shrieking, wheezing, and making all sorts of infernal racket. It's been on death's door for ages, and I've been putting off getting a new one, because 1- they are expensive; 2-they all seem to have bells and whistles I don't want, 3- many seem to not have flat tops (where all my washing crap lives). Plus I find making large purchases very intimidating. So in this case waiting paid off - my DB was moving stuff around in his hanger and decided they were ready to jettison the dryer they had out there. (They have a new one in the house.) So we picked it up, DH switched the cord/plug so it would work with our setup, and we have a free, new (to us) quiet dryer with more useful settings than our old one had. YAY! And yes, I have a clothesline, but I'm too old to use it in the winter! And we've had a LOT of rain this year, so a dryer is a really useful appliance. So here's a shout-out to my DB for a useful family cast-off.
9-1-25, 2:38pm
iris lilies

i’m glad you didn’t have to sink money into a very new washer and dryer. The bells and whistles suck. I still haven’t figured out how to soak anything in my washer and it’s been here seven years.
9-1-25, 6:50pm
Tradd

I needed a new washer in my rental condo. It was about 15 years old. Landlord asked me to let him know what I wanted. I had a Whirlpool top loader with just knobs and dials. No touch screen. That's what I wanted. My washer and dryer are side by side in a closet in my kitchen. He got a Hotpoint at Home Depot. Actually has a bit more capacity than the old one. New one is MUCH quieter, too. Was just replaced late last week. Dryer still works fine.

No spend day for me today. Just stayed home. Brought some work home and did it this afternoon. Will make tomorrow easier.

My rent went up $100 today (rent paid on Friday) to $1100, but I'm still $400-$500 below market. I've been here since 2008 and rent started out at $800. Having only gone up $300 total over $17 years?It's still a huge bargain. Rent went up because condo association monthly dues went up, plus because the dryer had to be replaced. I'm fine with that. I can well afford it.
9-1-25, 11:18pm
KayLR

I ALWAYS say procrastination is way underrated. Good for you!!
9-2-25, 6:27am
rosarugosa

Nice score, Early!
Tradd, That certainly sounds like reasonable rent, even with the increase. In my area, it's becoming impossible to find anything under $2000/month.
9-2-25, 3:07pm
SiouzQ.

After eight or so weeks of being laid off and getting unemployment payments that are far less than what K. was used to making per week, he finally realized we cannot live high on the hog like we were doing. I had done some gentle prodding early on about the need to pay attention to our spending but I think it is finally starting to sink in with him. On his own yesterday he went through his bank statements to look for monthly subscriptions of things he had signed up for and then started the process of discontinuing them - gone is the Dollar Shave Club, The New Yorker, and some newsletters he was paying for. He reduced the monthly amount he was giving to our local radion station, and then because he threatened to end his Sirius Radio subscription, they drastically lowered the rate he had been paying (if it was up to me I wouldn't have Sirius at all as I find all of the stations he has set up on the truck radio somewhat boring and preditcable).

Baby steps, but I am proud of him for getting it done!
9-2-25, 5:34pm
pinkytoe

Apparently, September will not be a frugal month due to dental costs and we don't have dental insurance to lessen the cost. I am told I need a scale and plane procedure and DH will need some investigative dental work with the possibility of a root canal. Several thousand likely for both.
9-2-25, 7:42pm
Tradd

Quote:

Originally Posted by SiouzQ.

After eight or so weeks of being laid off and getting unemployment payments that are far less than what K. was used to making per week, he finally realized we cannot live high on the hog like we were doing. I had done some gentle prodding early on about the need to pay attention to our spending but I think it is finally starting to sink in with him. On his own yesterday he went through his bank statements to look for monthly subscriptions of things he had signed up for and then started the process of discontinuing them - gone is the Dollar Shave Club, The New Yorker, and some newsletters he was paying for. He reduced the monthly amount he was giving to our local radion station, and then because he threatened to end his Sirius Radio subscription, they drastically lowered the rate he had been paying (if it was up to me I wouldn't have Sirius at all as I find all of the stations he has set up on the truck radio somewhat boring and preditcable).

Baby steps, but I am proud of him for getting it done!

I can get the digital edition of the New Yorker free through Libby app from library. Works better if you have a tablet to read it on.
9-3-25, 7:07am
rosarugosa

SiouzQ: We've had Sirius radio since we bought our Bronco in 2021. DH loves it, and he has the app installed on his phone and listens to it all the time. Every year when it cones up for renewal, I log into the website and "chat" with a customer service robot, and get the low rate extended for another year with virtually no pushback at all. I believe we are paying $7.99/month.
9-3-25, 7:49am
happystuff

Congrats to all the frugals being posted! Can't say I have anything to add at the moment.
9-4-25, 5:53am
rosarugosa

Here's a frugal intertwined with a not so frugal: during the summer, our pottery teacher sells beautiful bouquets from her cutting garden. I indulge myself weekly, because I absolutely cannot resist a gorgeous bouquet arranged by someone with a degree in fine arts for $15! The bouquets last over a week, so I feel like it's money well spent, but certainly an indulgence. Anyway, I wanted to buy flowers for a special person's birthday. I reached out to our teacher, and arranged to pick up an especially nice bouquet from her home for $20. That's less that I would have paid for even a grocery store arrangement, and it was quite spectacular. The recipient was delighted!
9-4-25, 8:38am
iris lilies

I love that you are buying regular bouquets from her cutting garden. We have two cutting garden operations outside of my town here. I don’t know who they sell to other than in the markets and festivals. I see them around, but I’m glad they’re here.
9-4-25, 11:13am
SiouzQ.

Thanks Tradd and Rosarugosa: I will check with the library I go to in Santa Fe to see if they offer that app. Wow, $7.99 a month for Sirius?!! I think he got it down from $30 to $17/month (yeah, I know, he doesn't notice the creep on the cost of things at all).

K. had never paid much attention to his spending habit his entire life so we are coming from very different places in regards to how we individually view money. Over the years from him I have learned that money is just a tool to use and that it is okay to enjoy some things and from me he has started to look a bit harder to where his money goes. If he had done that long ago he would have had A LOT more money in a 401k by now because he has always had decent jobs but that's okay. He does have a 401k from the last job that he got laid off from and I have most of that money I religiously hoarded all those years.

I believe it will all work out for us even though we were kind of thrust into retirement sooner than we'd planned.
9-5-25, 6:12am
rosarugosa

Quote:

Originally Posted by SiouzQ.

Thanks Tradd and Rosarugosa: I will check with the library I go to in Santa Fe to see if they offer that app. Wow, $7.99 a month for Sirius?!! I think he got it down from $30 to $17/month (yeah, I know, he doesn't notice the creep on the cost of things at all).

K. had never paid much attention to his spending habit his entire life so we are coming from very places in regards to how we individually view money. Over the years from him I have learned that money is just a tool to use and that it is okay to enjoy some things and from me he has started to look a bit harder to where his money goes. If he had done that long ago he would have had A LOT more money in a 401k by now because he has always had decent jobs but that's okay. He does have a 401k from the last job that he got laid off from and I have most of that money I religiously hoarded all those years.

I believe it will all work out for us even though we were kind of thrust into retirement sooner than we'd planned.

It sounds like you provide good balance for each other. I do think there are different levels of Sirius radio, and we don't have the most deluxe package. For example, we don't get any sports, which is fine for us but not for everyone.
9-5-25, 7:16am
rosarugosa

2 Attachment(s)

This was one of my best frugals ever!
Backstory: We recently replaced 3 steam baseboard units with small cast iron radiators. It was pretty expensive, but the baseboards have been nothing but trouble and never provided adequate heat. The new radiators are a totally different size/shape, so things currently look like crap. It was one of those improvement projects that will necessitate some additional projects/expenditures.
Yesterday: A woman posted a custom radiator cover on our FB free page. She said, "Custom metal radiator cover.. 73 1/2 inches long 9 1/2 inches wide and 9 1/2 inches deep.. Maybe someone could get lucky with these dimensions ?"
My space in the bedroom is EXACTLY 73 1/2 inches. It's between two bookcases, so the exact same measurement is amazing. We went to pick it up, and put it in place and WOW! DH was so annoyed initially, what a pain, probably won't fit, then it will be our piece of junk to deal with, grumble, grumble (he is quite the little ray of sunshine), but he was certainly impressed after the fact.
Before and after pics (I know I need to do a little bit of decluttering in this room):
Attachment 6495
Attachment 6496
9-5-25, 8:09am
happystuff

Nice! We currently do not have radiator covers, so I do appreciate that you got one for free!!! Congrats!
9-5-25, 8:22am
iris lilies

Quote:

Originally Posted by rosarugosa

This was one of my best frugals ever!
Backstory: We recently replaced 3 steam baseboard units with small cast iron radiators. It was pretty expensive, but the baseboards have been nothing but trouble and never provided adequate heat. The new radiators are a totally different size/shape, so things currently look like crap. It was one of those improvement projects that will necessitate some additional projects/expenditures.
Yesterday: A woman posted a custom radiator cover on our FB free page. She said, "Custom metal radiator cover.. 73 1/2 inches long 9 1/2 inches wide and 9 1/2 inches deep.. Maybe someone could get lucky with these dimensions ?"
My space in the bedroom is EXACTLY 73 1/2 inches. It's between two bookcases, so the exact same measurement is amazing. We went to pick it up, and put it in place and WOW! DH was so annoyed initially, what a pain, probably won't fit, then it will be our piece of junk to deal with, grumble, grumble (he is quite the little ray of sunshine), but he was certainly impressed after the fact.
Before and after pics (I know I need to do a little bit of decluttering in this room):
Attachment 6495
Attachment 6496

That radiator,cover is the score of a lifetime! That will be in your house long after you are gone. Wow!
9-5-25, 7:01pm
catherine

I agree with IL!!! That is AMAZING! it looks fantastic, too! (Reminds me of the one my MIL had covering her radiators. It was in her living room, and it blended in beautifully with the furniture.) Congrats!!
9-6-25, 6:05am
Tradd

Radiator covers make a huge difference.
9-6-25, 6:16am
rosarugosa

I am seriously grateful and amazed that this free score has the visual impact of a major home improvement!
9-6-25, 9:38am
early morning

Wow rosa, what a wonderful score!! It looks great!
9-6-25, 11:11am
Tybee

Excellent score on the radiator cover!

My husband is out getting hay bales to insulate our house and use in the garden. We figure we saved about 500-750 last year in fuel oil costs by insulating house this way. This year he has spent 375 on hay but there is also enough to do the gardens in addition to the hay, so we are ahead of the game.
9-26-25, 9:41pm
catherine

Do you know I have never made homemade pizza? I've always ordered it takeout,or I bought a cheap,crappy frozen one.

Tonight DH and I made our own from supermarket pizza dough, shredded cheese, mozzarella, Ragu pizza sauce and herbs. It was delicious! Just as good as a takeout pizza. And I figured out that it cost about $7 for 2 "Personal" (but big for personal--a lot left over) pizzas.

Why did I not realize how easy and good making your own could be?
9-27-25, 6:30am
rosarugosa

Quote:

Originally Posted by catherine

Do you know I have never made homemade pizza? I've always ordered it takeout,or I bought a cheap,crappy frozen one.

Tonight DH and I made our own from supermarket pizza dough, shredded cheese, mozzarella, Ragu pizza sauce and herbs. It was delicious! Just as good as a takeout pizza. And I figured out that it cost about $7 for 2 "Personal" (but big for personal--a lot left over) pizzas.

Why did I not realize how easy and good making your own could be?

It's a great discovery, isn't it? DH has been making pizza for us for quite a few years now, and it was prompted by me reading about it as a good frugal hack. It's especially nice when we have fresh basil to add in the summer.
9-28-25, 12:05am
iris lilies

we didn’t make pizza here until recently. We don’t get takeout pizza either.

I’ve made pizza twice since DH has been diagnosed with Alpha gal, and I make it with vegan cheese, plant-based pepperoni, and the store bought crust that does not contain milk
9-28-25, 6:12am
rosarugosa

I can't remember if it was Trent Hamm (The Simple Dollar) or JD Roth (Get Rich Slowly), but one of these personal finance bloggers mentioned how resorting to takeout isn't even really a time saver once you factor in the time to place the order and pick up the food (we never opt for delivery since it always takes so long and is an added cost). I think it was Trent who talked about homemade pizza night as a frugal meal option.
10-4-25, 2:05pm
early morning

While the idea of homemade pizza night sounds ok, I have a different take on takeout. For me, takeout is based on - am I going to get home in time to make something for dinner? if no - takeout becomes an option. AND: if I get home in time to fix dinner, am I already overwhelmed/exhausted/stretched too thin? If YES, takeout is again an option. No extra time - will pick up something I'm passing anyway. I can probably count on one hand the number of times in the past few years where we've BEEN at home and went to get takeout - and those generally involved a request of a celebrant (birthday person, anniversary, other celebration). Note: To me, pizza is an art-form and I love ingredients that I don't normally stock. I can eat ordinary or crap pizza but - why?? :~)

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