1. I signed up for a $250 banking bonus
You know how I signed up for a Wells Fargo $300 offer when I got my new job?
Well, I’ve more than met the $1000 minimum direct deposit offer for that one, so I moved on and opened one at M&T Bank, which offers a $250 bonus once I deposit at least $500 via direct deposit.
Once I start school, I’m not going to be working very many hours at the hospital, so I figured I should squeeze this offer in during my last month of working multiple shifts per week.
It took about 10 minutes to open the account and to change my direct deposit information in my employee portal, so I feel like $250 is a pretty good return for my time.
My patient care tech checks will have earned me $550 in bonus money, which is not too shabby!
2. I borrowed a book from a neighbor
My friend Carrie recommended a book to me, and unfortunately, my library only had the audio and Kindle versions.
I considered looking on eBay, but the annoying thing about buying a book on eBay is that then I gotta do something with it after I finish reading it (sell it, donate it). I almost never reread books, so borrowing is preferable.
So I put out a request on my Buy Nothing group and my neighbor Kate (who obviously is in the same group as me!) messaged to tell me she had a copy. Yay!
Also, she included a bag of fresh basil.
I highly recommend having Kate as a neighbor. 😉
3. I painted some frames for Sonia
She had a couple of frames that she wanted to be purple, and I knew I had some purple spray paint from my original Buy Nothing Group spray paint haul, back in 2022.
I used it on a little pot for her back then, actually!
The frames had some thick white paint on them that got rather sticky when I tried to sand them. But then I discovered that I could soak the paint with a wet washcloth and peel it off (which was rather satisfying!)
I used some spray primer on the frames, and then the purple spray paint, and I used a deconstructed Hungry Harvest box under the project.
So, for $0 out of pocket, Sonia’s got some frames that are exactly what she wants.
4. I got a pack of pens for $0.41
I got an email from Michael’s letting me know I had a $5 voucher to redeem, and when I logged in, I realized I actually had two!
So, I stopped in and browsed their pen selection, since those are obviously helpful for taking notes in school!
I decided on a $13 pack of pens, used a 20% off coupon and my two $5 vouchers, and my total was $0.41. Sweet.
5. I continued my perfect streak
The streak? Never buying food/drink at the hospital. So far, it’s unbroken, including the weeks I spent there at clinical last semester.
Can I keep this up like my no Chick-fil-A at college streak??? Time will tell. 😉
![prepped lunch in a fridge.](https://www.thefrugalgirl.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/img_2140-600x800.jpg)
My prepped lunch, waiting to go into the lunch bag
In all seriousness, I recognize that it would not be the end of the world to buy food at work occasionally. The cafeteria at my hospital is quite reasonably priced.
![cottage cheese and tomatoes.](https://www.thefrugalgirl.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/img_3076-600x800.jpg)
part of my work lunch!
But as a rule, even when cafeteria food is cheap, it’s still cheaper to bring food from home. A regular cafeteria habit would slowly eat away at my little PCT paychecks.
Plus, when I bring food, I eat things like cottage cheese, vegetables, fruit, bean salad, and chicken. Most cafeteria options would be hard-pressed to match up nutritionally.
And my lunch is always packed in reusable containers, so it produces less trash than a cafeteria meal.
(Not gonna lie, this feels like a drop in the bucket compared to the volume of stuff I have to throw away every day at the hospital, but a win is a win, even if it’s small.)
One other great thing about a packed lunch; it allows you to spend your entire 30-minute break eating and resting, vs. spending part of it trekking to the cafeteria.
AK
Wednesday 21st of August 2024
Librarian here: interlibrary loan (ILL) is always free for books that your local library doesn't have. They will be the same checkout length as your usual books. If it's not obvious that your library offers this or you can't tell how to do it a librarian would be more than happy to help. I've never heard of a library not offering ILL in my 15yr career.
Chris b
Thursday 8th of August 2024
Drying basil
Canning pickles
Home grown corn on the cob
Library books
Not all frugal but good
JEG
Wednesday 7th of August 2024
I needed ink for the printer and I use it a lot for the club I belong to. Often I buy the economy pack of all cartridges but I eventually get to only needing the colors. Right now, just the colors. I had a $17 credit. And free shipping. Last night dinner was not entirely frugal but better than takeout. I stopped at the market on the way home an bought prepared food--orange chicken and fried rice and a loaf of discounted bread ($13 for two). When I got home, my husband said he had thought of ordering burgers from The 99 but it was $17 an order of which I would have to go get anyway. My local meat market put an ad up for a 5-lb bag of chicken tenders $9.99 (make my own orange chicken). I am going there today to get a bag of chicken and some burgers and I don't know what else; but From just the first two I'll get 4+ meals. We'll go from there. I boiled up a couple of our fresh eggs for work lunch yesterday. No bread in the house, so I took crackers.
Jannecke
Wednesday 7th of August 2024
Hi, Long time reader here from Norway!
Somebody may have commented on this already, but I haven't checked through all the 100+ comments. I just wanted to let you know that the large planter that you painted dark pink (the one on the right hand side in the photo) looks to be a highly collectible mid century ceramic planter, designed by Richard Lindh for Arabia, Finland. There might be a stamp under, you could check (unless its painted over!). Very sought after, and sells for at least $ 100, maybe more, depending on size. This looks to be a larger size, which is rarer and pricier.
Well done on all your frugal finds! :-)
Kristen
Wednesday 7th of August 2024
Ohhh, I wish it was ceramic but it’s just plastic!
Tarynkay
Wednesday 7th of August 2024
1) The kids and I went to the dentist and no one had any cavities! I then spent $12 on celebratory Frappuccinos for them. That might not sound frugal, but they somehow are extremely motivated to brush and floss well by the promise of post-dentist Starbucks and it’s a lot cheaper than fillings.
2) I convinced my 8 year old to get a lemonade at Aldi vs. a restaurant in the same plaza. He spent $0.89 vs. $4 of his allowance money. I’m counting this as an investment in his financial education.
3) I called a repair person to come fix our dryer, which prompted DH to order the parts to fix it himself. Plus he will have the kids help, a win all the way round. The appointment is 2 weeks out, so I will cancel it if he can fix it. While I completely agree with Kristen that you do not need whiskers to fix appliances, appliance repair is just not an area of strength for me.
4) I made lunch for everyone rather than going out to eat after church on Sunday.
5) Also in the category of financial education, I gave my 12 year old his back to school clothing budget and took him to Plato’s Closet. I just stood back and let him handle figuring out what he needed and paying for it. He even brought his calculator! And, unprompted, he left himself about 1/3 of his allotted money in case he needs something as the year goes on.