1. I got a boost on my Ebates check.
I had an $85 balance over at Ebates and they sent me an email offering a boost of 10-20% if I redeemed for a gift card instead of a check.
I looked over the options, settled on Old Navy (I often buy basics for my girls from there), and got a 12% bonus on my redemption.
And of course, I’ll redeem my gift card while Old Navy has a sale going on.
(If you want to join Ebates, use my referral link to get $10 in bonus cashback once you earn $25.)
2. I went cheap on pineapple juice.
I needed some for a marinade, but Aldi doesn’t carry pineapple juice. So, I bought a can of pineapple, which happens to come in 100% juice.
Useful pineapple, useful juice, no need for an extra stop!
(Incidentally, I haven’t had canned pineapple in a while and I’ve decided I sure do prefer the fresh kind.)
3. I used the veggies I had on hand to make dinner.
You know the orzo with sausage recipe I’ve shared here?
One thing I love about that recipe is that it’s very easy to add whatever veggies I have on hand.
The original called for broccoli rabe, but I’ve used broccoli or asparagus instead. And last night, I used peppers and kale from my Hungry Harvest box.
4. I signed up for an Acorns investing account.
I was reading an article on The Penny Hoarder and saw a mention of the Acorns investing app, along with a link to get a free $5 to start out.
So, I signed up to give it a try, and well, I’ve made at least $5 so far. 😉
(If you’d like to try it out, you can sign up through my referral link and get your own free $5.)
I haven’t enabled this yet, but Acorns offers a round-up service, where you link a credit or debit card, and Acorns automatically rounds up your purchase to the next dollar and puts the round-up in your investment account.
For instance, if you buy something that’s $24.75, Acorns rounds up to $25 and puts the $0.25 in your investment account.
On the downside, Acorns does charge $1/month in fees, which could be a high percentage of my investment until I have more money in my account. So, I’m a little iffy about this so far.
On the other hand, Acorns is super simple, requires no minimums, and I can see why it’s appealing to millennials (their target audience.)
5. I…
…packed a lunch of leftovers for Mr. FG, made a smoothie with bruised peaches I froze last summer (I’m drinking it with a reusable glass straw, of course!), printed a $5/any purchase coupon from Kohl’s, used ExtraBucks for a purchase at CVS, and also I stopped at the grocery store and only bought what I needed for dinner.
(Grocery stores can be as dangerous as Target, am I right??)
Nicole
Friday 11th of May 2018
I like using frozen pineapple for recipes, but will buy fresh for snacking. I noticed when I was buying canned my recipes wouldn't use it all up so frozen was cheaper in the long run.
Deidre
Friday 11th of May 2018
1. Got some frozen meals half price I have never tried before & so far they are really delicious & great at the moment as I have too much going on to cook most nights 2. Checked my car's oil to prevent engine failure but didn't top up too much as I am getting a regular service done shortly & they'll change the oil 3. Bought windscreen wiper blades to cut & fit myself 4. Resisted buying produce I didn't have an immediate plan for 5. Sis had leftover rice paper rolls she gave me for lunch today
Nora
Thursday 10th of May 2018
1 - I saved two shirts and one pair of shorts that had various sticky things on them by treating the areas with a healthy dose of rubbing alcohol. The shorts had tree sap. One shirt had gum. The second shirt I think had the remnants of a preschool tape name tag, but I'm not entirely sure as it was in a hand-me-down box.
2 - I got one container each of laundry detergent and dish soap free from a grocery store that was launching new products. Frankly, I'm thinking of just donating them to the food pantry because both unit prices are so much higher than what I usually use (which I'm happy with) that I don't want to like them.
3 - I got a free can of corn and a free can of tomato sauce from the Monopoly game at another grocery store. The corn will also go to the food pantry as, while we eat canned corn, I have plenty at the moment. Canned vegetables are on their wish list; tomato sauce is not.
4 - I returned a set of items that didn't fit as well as I would have liked. I did pay $6 shipping to mail them vs taking them to the store. But, I'm sure I would have spent more than that going in to the mall and the zero hassle was worth it too. I get much more of that refunded to me for returning items that fit only ok.
5 - My total grocery spend for April was $665, which I know sounds high. But, its way under my goal of $1000 for our family of 8 and we still ate well without eating out much.
Lori
Thursday 10th of May 2018
I have often wondered if you feed your family of 6 on one frying pan's worth of food? Just curious!
Kristen
Thursday 10th of May 2018
That depends! If all six of us are here, it has to be a pretty full frying pan, or I need to expand into more pans. This night there were only four of us, so it worked out fine with one pan.
Linda@perilincreations.com
Thursday 10th of May 2018
1. I stop at Speedway in the mornings after dropping grandson off at school. I earned enough points to get a free soda and they offer free donuts every morning. Free breakfast. 2. I have also earned enough points to get .20 off per gallon at my next fill up. 3. I went to fix BBQ pork chops in the crock pot and discovered I was out of BBQ sauce. Instead of running out to get a bottle I made my own. This is something that I won't buy anymore; it came out great. 4. My husband brought home a discarded wicker settee that is actually in good shape, although it does not have any cushions. I had previously purchased some couch cushions from a yard sale to redo the patio furniture we already had. It is also wicker. I have enough material and cushions left to also do this settee. 5. I have been planning meals from what is in my freezer and pantry. No extra grocery stops for me.