1. I kept a cheaper pair of shoes
This was inadvertently frugal!
I had ordered a larger pair of my original DSW shoes, but then I also found a similar pair at Target marked down to $10.
Lisey actually gave an upvote to the Target shoes style-wise.
AND they were more comfortable.
So I’m returning the $45 pair to DSW and keeping the $10 pair.
A nice thing about these shoes is that they have a very low, wide heel (good for an outdoor wedding), but the ankle straps make them look sort of like I’m wearing actual heels.
(I hate wearing high heels. Hate, hate, hate it.)
2. I sold a book that I listed two years ago
I did a big batch of book listings two summers ago, and this particular book had been just hanging out in my eBay listings since then.
But then yesterday I got an email saying that it had sold.
eBay is a long game…I list books, put them back on my shelf, and forget about them until they sell.
Of course, most things sell more quickly than this book did, but still, this is a good reminder that most things will eventually find a buyer.
I put very little effort into eBay, just listing things here and there. But still, I’ve sold $200 worth of stuff in the last 90 days.
As my friend Katy says, “Clutter out, money in!”
Related: 9 eBay selling tips for newbies
3. I used a long-held pedicure gift certificate
Mr. FG had given me a pedicure gift certificate long before the events of 2020, and I’d been hanging onto it because, well, last summer I didn’t really go much of anywhere (events were….few and far between!) and it felt like a waste to use the certificate.
So, I dug it out and got my feet all prettied up for the upcoming wedding.
My dress is floor-length, so my feet don’t really matter much, but I figured this was as good a time as any to have fancy feet.
4. I figured out an easy dinner for last night
I did not sleep well at all the night before; I normally wake up around 6:00 am, and I woke up to use the bathroom at 4:30 am.
Sometimes I can go back to sleep at a time like that, but this time my mind was awake.
So, I was super tired last night and did not at all feel like cooking. Mr. FG hopped over to BJ’s and picked up a rotisserie chicken, and I threw some frozen sweet potato fries into the oven and also cut up some produce.
Easy, quick, and much less expensive than getting takeout for all of us!
5. I’ve saved up $95 in my Erie YourTurn app
We have our car insurance through Erie and they have an app that rewards you for safe driving.
It’s only $5 every two weeks, but hey, it’s more than the $0 I was getting for my safe driving before!
There are all kinds of good redemption options, like Target, Starbucks, Panera Bread, and more. So now I just have to decide what I want.
Aew
Tuesday 22nd of June 2021
We are at Disney this week which is about as anti frugal as you can get BUT, in an effort to save money and not waste food my husband has been not ordering a meal and instead just cleaning up what the kids and I don’t finish. No food waste and we save the cost of an entree every meal!
Suellen J Roley
Saturday 19th of June 2021
Root was supposed to cancel my Geico insurance policy but they didn't, and I'm not into double paying for car insurance!! So I went ahead and canceled my Geico policy myself ($190+ not going out the door).
In the middle of a kitchen/office renovation having my next door neighbor do the work for $25.00 an hour plus supplies (he's a retired contractor). Would have been $100.00 or more per hour for a non-retired contractor, and my next door neighbor is willing to work with my wonky schedule (work 6 days a week, usually 50-60 hours a week)
Been taking my phone in the store with me so I can add Just 4 U deals on the fly.
Liz B.
Saturday 19th of June 2021
My FFT, aging sail boat edition:
Let me just put it out there, boats are big pits you pour money into....not necessarily frugal. Owning a 40+ year old boat, purchased used, and neglecting said boat for 10+ of those 40+ years = exceedingly unfrugal. But, here we are. It was hubby's dream to own a sail boat, but life intervened since buying it....this is the year we get it in the water.
1) Hubby and I are doing the vast majority of the work = frugal. There are some things we cannot do, but hubby is very handy, and will be doing a huge part of the refurbishment, including the electronics (he's the son of an electrician).
2) I painted 3 coats of spar urethane on the wood bits of the boat, as well as on a wooden bench we bought at an art fair last year. Total cost about $100 for supplies, my time = free.
2) Hubby found a deal on a depth finder that has a $100 rebate. Sending that in online before the expiration date.
3) All online purchases made with credit card to get rewards points, and through Rakuten when possible to get cash back. Credit card is paid off every month.
4) I scrubbed the boat cushions clean, and air dried them. We needed a replacement cushion that, if we bought the exact cushion online, would cost about $1000 (yes, really. I had to pick my jaw up off the ground when I heard that). Bought a smaller (long, skinny) cushion for much, much less (I think about $100) that will do the job.
5) Scored a marine radio, new in the box, at a free pile (community yard sale event - one house left items in their driveway for free). Hubby says we don't need it, so will try and sell it. Also found a dollar bill in the street in front of the "free pile" house!
Also doing all the usual things - packing my lunch for work, making sun tea, making my own coffee, etc. Have a good week, everyone!
jodie filogomo
Wednesday 16th of June 2021
Those shoes are a steal and you can wear them with everything...not just for dress up!! There are time the less expensive shoes are even more comfy than some of my more expensive ones...a true reminder that we don't always get what we pay for!! I'm working on a nutritious and convenient yet budget friendly food post!! Who knew that Trader Joes could end up being so good for us? LOL XOXO Jodie www.jtouchofstyle.com
LB
Wednesday 16th of June 2021
1. Even with libraries closed (although they are recently reopened!) I continue to make great use of them by downloading ebooks to my kindle and audio books to my phone. They are the greatest resource, can’t wait to take my 3 year old into one now, he was 1 the last time we were inside one and I think he’ll enjoy it so much now.
2. Someone was giving away some brand new with tags 3T girls pajamas in my buy nothing group. My daughter is still in size 18 months but growing fast and it’s nice to already have some items in her next sizes.
3. I used to grow a large garden but since having kids and moving to a new climate, I have not had as much time or been as successful with growing. I am now getting back into it and figuring out what grows well here though and it looks like I will have a lot of green beans and peas at least, which we eat a lot of.