This post contains affiliate links, which earn revenue for this site at no extra cost to you. See my disclosure policy here.
1. I discovered a $217 medical billing error.
People: Always check your Explanation of Benefits statements!
I’ve had a long run of error-free bills with Cigna, which could have made me lazy about checking.
But I’m really glad I’ve still been keeping an eye on things because $217 is not pocket change.
I put in a request with Cigna, made a note of the date I called, the rep I spoke to, and also the reference number.
Because based on my past experience, I think it’s highly possible I will have to call back again.
2. I made banana muffins.
These three bananas were too far gone for anyone here to actually want to eat them as-is.
So, I turned them into banana chocolate chip muffins.
And this time, I composted the banana peels!
3. I added some markdowns to my Hungry Harvest.
Hungry Harvest sometimes rescues non-produce items and lists them in their marketplace, and this week they’d marked down organic Provolone cheese and organic yogurt.
I usually make my own yogurt, but I thought I’d give this a try.
(The cheese expires later in November, so grocery stores did not want to stock it.)
I also saw they carry kombucha for a pretty good price, so I added a bottle.
(What’s Hungry Harvest?)
4. I made breakfast for dinner to use up buttermilk.
This was a food waste win, but on the loss side, I had to throw out an unopened package of sausage that got lost in last week’s 3-ER visit shuffle.
(Yep. We added a third ambulance ER trip last Friday night.)
But I’m remembering what I wrote on Monday!
Throwing out sausage does not negate the win of me using up the buttermilk.
Because it’s better to throw out sausage than to throw out sausage AND buttermilk.
5. I…
- cooked at home despite a lot of doctor appointments this week
- shipped off three more books sold on eBay
- bought a $5.99 bag of Starbucks peppermint mocha grounds (cheaper than going to Starbucks for holiday drinks!)
- made a return at the mall when I was already nearby (no return shipping, no extra gas)
- redeemed Fetch points for $10 to Amazon (super quick & easy to redeem.)
Your turn! Share your five frugal things in the comments.
P.S. Fetch is a free app that gives your rewards based on what groceries you buy. You can get $3 just for downloading the app and scanning your first receipt. Use code QG8V2.
Deidre
Friday 15th of November 2019
It is so worth checking receipts, I always ask for a receipt & check, a friend once got a $300+ amount on a receipt for a sandwich - I check automatically now! (she did get her money back) Those muffins look good, My FFT: 1. Got back in tax what I thought I was going to have to pay!!!! (they changed some criteria) 2. Needed some clothes for warmer weather & got them all on sale! 3. Same old driving habits-leave early, drive smoothly, combine errands, get petrol on route, fill up when it's cold if possible, avoid multistorey carpark ( can take 15min to get up & down that's a lot of petrol over a year, -not to mention time I'd rather be doing something else :) 4. I'm getting rid of a lot of stuff these days but when I buy new décor it's often from op-shops I just watered my glass planter with multi level soil & rocks & succulents I got from an op shop 5. Today I'm finally getting 'round to reviewing & changing some plans for cheaper options
Becca
Friday 15th of November 2019
Made homemade granola bars for kids lunches and snacks this week
Saved and dried a bunch bunch of grapefruit peels, persimmon peels, and pear peels to make diy herbal tea
Bought a pair of snow pants for my youngest for $5 on Facebook marketplace
Saved leftover rice by making rice pudding and leftover beets by making chocolate beet muffins. For whatever reason I bought the yuckiest beets. Not sweet and very bitter. But in chocolate muffins they tasted fine!
Turned piles of old broken crayons into a fun activity by sorting, chopping, and melting them into new crayons.
Jessica
Friday 15th of November 2019
My husband was unexpectedly laid off on Columbus Day, not knowing how long it would take to find a new job, I went on a much more intense pantry, closet, freezer use it up plan! (Thankfully he started a new job this week while he keeps looking for the job he really wants)
Dealing with old insurance to get an overpayment sent to me in a check verus it sitting on the now defunc FSA mastercard...
plowing through the frozen fruit supply making muffins and treats for the family...
Used my $90 advantage credit at Sams club to purchase a few flats of chicken and other deals we get there to mix up the things I have been cooking...Prepped that chicken trimming and portioning for future meals...
Meal planning.. this is never my strong point but being more intentional about using what we have before stopping at the store has made this a necessity.. Also I have been working extra hours and subbing on my off days at my main job so this has helped feel in control!
Prepping some mason jars of soup for quick lunches on days I need something and avoid buying!
Cleaning out the bathroom drawers using the random shampoo/conditioner/toothpaste samples...( This is pure lazy since I have full sized downstairs but am too lazy to go get them.. so I pulled these out and kids are finishing them up! lol cleaner drawer!!)
Kristen
Friday 15th of November 2019
I am so glad that he's got a new job now. Whew!
lisa
Friday 15th of November 2019
1) Donated items to the Vets. Although some may not consider this frugal, I think that I saved gas & time since the Vets pick up at my home. 2) Earned a $10 gift card for Starbucks by taking a survey. 3) I've got $12 in swagbucks so far. 4) Years ago, I purchased life insurance for the kids. I got term and whole life policies. Since I've had medical bills this year that need to get paid, I'm considering cancelling one of those. I just have to find out what I'm paying for each type. 5) Last year, our dental insurance only covered cleanings and bite wing x-rays. So, I purchased a discount plan online. What I paid for it saved me the same amount in discounts. So, it was a wash. This year, insurance covers 80% of services. I'll save at least $480 this year.
J
Tuesday 19th of November 2019
I’ve been told that most life insurance for kids is a completely bad idea, developed by someone to make money for THEM. It plays on our fears in several ways. Would be good to read up on it. Investing the money elsewhere would make much more sense.
Jan
Thursday 14th of November 2019
I read a study--although many years ago before computers were ubiquitous--that showed that 100% of hospital bills were inaccurate. Not 99% or even 98% but 100%!!!
Your bananas were just at the stage I like them--I like banana skins to have "freckles". But if you don't catch them exactly on the right day they are too far gone!
Heidi Louise
Thursday 14th of November 2019
.It isn't just the insurance. It is the doctor's office records as well, as I just found out today when I read the wad of print-outs I walked out of the visit with.. Grrrrr.