I know I mentioned sharing a post about cost-per-use, which I meant to publish yesterday, but, you know, life got in the way. So, here are five frugal things for you, and we’ll chat about cost-per-use another day.
1. I sold another outgrown bike.
And I still hate selling things.
If I could sell things and not deal with people, that would be fine.
(!)
But people who email back and forth and then drop off the face of the earth, and people who can never nail down a pickup time, and people who haggle when the price is already fair…they make me hate selling stuff.
For instance, I listed the bike for $125, which was very fair based on the used market. A guy emailed and asked if I’d take $75, and when I said no, $100 is the lowest I’d go, he told me he’d offer $80.
Dear sir, that is not how haggling is supposed to go. I go down $25 from my asking price, meeting you in the middle, and then you only go up $5 from the price you want?
Um, no.
And he wasn’t the only one.
I patiently waited for the right person to come along and got $110 for it (info I’d like to share with the guy who said my listing would still be there in two months. 😉 ).
I know we’re only talking $25 or so of difference here, and I’m not even normally a stubborn person. But man, every so often, something comes along that I do not want to budge on. And this was one of those things.
(Kind of like when I dug my heels in about those cabinet drawer slide brackets.)
Anyway. It’s gone! I have my money! All is well.
2. I sold a bed frame.
This was a frustrating process too. So many people emailed me and then just disappeared, some even after setting a pickup time.
Luckily, someone finally followed through, and it’s out of the house. Yay!
As usual, I’m giving myself some big, fat, puffy gold hearts for getting stuff sold.
(This has reminded me why I only sell stuff worth $50 or more. Unless I’m getting $50, it’s just not worth the time and headache!)
3. We picked up a used college book from a friend.
The used version at the college bookstore was over $100, but Joshua’s friend said he’d sell his copy for $20.
Done, and done!
The other one is going back to the college bookstore posthaste for a refund.
(I kept the receipt in a safe place in case this happened!)
4. I made rice pudding with leftover rice.
I don’t have a recipe for this….I just dump the dry, leftover rice into a pot, cover it with milk, add cinnamon and salt, and let it simmer, stirring occasionally, until the rice is soft and creamy.
My girls love eating this as a snack, sprinkled with some cinnamon sugar.
Sadly, the last time I had leftover rice, I forgot about it until it was too late and the rice was smelling funky. But this time, I did better!
5. Randomness…
I made a smoothie for breakfast, (using up produce from my produce box), stopped at Target and bought only what I planned to (unlike the day I impulsively bought this from Target), picked up library books (free!), and made dinner.
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Linda
Saturday 20th of August 2016
1. Found some school clothes for the beginning of the year on a clearance rack. Was able to purchase four outfits for $16. 2. I received a 20% off coupon off from a shoe store having a grand re-opening sale. While ringing up my purchase she used my coupon toward 2 pairs of boy's shoes and a package of socks. Then she rang up the 2 pairs of girl's shoes and used another 20% off. 3. This week I participated in a "Technology Bootcamp" at work. I'm a special Ed teacher and I'm not required to go back to work until next week. This training was voluntary, but it paid a nice stipend for attending. 4. I had a $5 off coupon for haircuts which I used for myself and 2 grandchildren. 5. I took the kids out for breakfast. With every paid adult meal, 1 child's meal was free. 6. Received an unexpected check in the mail as the result of a class lawsuit that I was unaware of.
Overall, it was a very frugal week.
Suzan
Friday 19th of August 2016
1. This week I have worked at eating at home. I didn't yesterday and despite ordering a non seafood meal due to allergies and informing the chef my meal was contaminated. I had a pretty strong and quick reaction. A great excuse to eat home made. 2. Pretty much all my wash is hung outdoors, even when it is hot and humid. Things might be fluffed in the dryer if I feel like it. The cleaner has been cancelled after many horrible errors and despite the extreme pain due to arthritis and some over stuff it may remian so. 3. Thursday night the kitchen sink blocked and I managed to fix it. Gross but cheaper. 4. I have resisted buying my beloved magazines etc. 5. I have begun making a serious Christmas plan and the needles etc are busy whenever I watch television or travel etc.
Now the biggie I went to the pharmacy this week to pick up my pills for the next four weeks. Last time I paid around $70 and this time it was over $140 and I have a rebate on many of pills under the Australian' Pharmaceuticals Benefit scheme. My medical costs are huge. So obviously I have to find gaps and close them and it doesn't matter what I feel about it all. Pick the right parents everyone.
Patti
Friday 19th of August 2016
1. Double-checked our college bill and saw that one of my daughter's scholarships wasn't credited -- $1000 saved (YAY) 2. Remembered to use the leftover rotisserie chicken to make quesadillas and mixed in some random green peppers and onions that needed to be used up. 3. Packed husband's lunch all week for work. 4. Resisted the urge to take the kids to the movies with our last few days of summer break and instead rented a redbox. I served ice cream and they thought they were in heaven anyway! 5. Called our auto insurance and because our cars our older, paid for and have lots of miles I compared how much we would save by dropping our comprehensive and self insuring the value with our emergency fund. Haven't pulled the trigger yet but possible savings almost $2000 a year so hopefully the numbers work!
Amanda
Friday 19th of August 2016
Craigslist people can be so crazy. Interestingly though we have really great friends we have made buying and selling on Craigslist. My husband and I joke that one day we'll throw a party and invite all the cool craigslist folks. :)
Anonymous
Friday 19th of August 2016
- packed lunch and water for a +3 hours train trip with already heavy bag - laundried at off peak hours only and line dried - did not watch any tv all week. I noticed not watching tv for a week saves a lot of electricity. However I mainly limit "blue lights" at night to save my sleep - happened upon great gift for half the price I had bargained for, for housewarming - made huge savings on car insurance for our next car - did additional payment for mortgage. And am so happy about that. All the little amounts add up!