Five Frugal Things | cloth napkins

I get cloth napkins at thrift stores and yard sales all the time. I may have a problem. I have dyed several over the years to hide stains and it works great. 1.Last night was my turn to host my 2 friends for dinner. I made pork chops($1.99 a pound), broccoli(99¢a pound), baked(49¢) or sweet potatoes(99¢), and homemade applesauce that I canned in the fall. I made iced tea and we had wine Hubby made in the fall. One friend brought a chocolate cake for dessert. We played cards for 3 hours. It cost me less than a dinner out would have. Next week is another one’s house and we are watching a movie after. All of us can afford to go out but we are all smart enough not to do it often. 2. I went to Stop n Shop and remembered to use a visa gift card that had 90¢ on it. It has been in my wallet for way too long. 3. I found tissues on the clearance rack for 74¢. They were all a little squished but we don’t care. I bought all of them. Aldi hasn’t had any the last 2 times I went and they are the cheapest around at $1 a box. 4. Mozzarella blocks were marked down to $2 with a use by date of 1/18. I bought 6 and threw 5 in my freezer. 5. My sister came back from 2+ weeks away. I watched her dog. She treated us to dinner. I have enough for lunch tomorrow. 6. I made lasagna for dinner for tomorrow. I work until 5 so all I have to do is cook it when I get home. I can make a salad to go with it while it cooks. I made 2 so lots of leftovers. I will freeze some after I cook them tomorrow.

I have used cloth napkins since I got married 30 years ago. My original set I bought on clearance at Boscov’s, a local chain. They are green and whited checkered. And they are still going strong. A few have unremovable stains but still serve their purpose. I’ve picked up more over the years cheap or free at yard sales and free piles. I too had some white ones. They were very small, maybe for fancy luncheons back in the day. I tie dyed them and used them in my kids lunch box. We do use paper napkins for very very messy meals but they are extras from fast food meals that I save rather than toss. 1. I’m getting ready for a week vacation with my wonderful SIL next week. It’s to a warm sunny location. I bought sunscreen when it was on clearance in the fall so I only paid about $3 a can as apposed to full price now or more expensive at the resort. 2. Since we have been to this all inclusive resort before I know what to pack and what I don’t need. Happy to say that short of a few items from the thrift store that I just wanted, I really didn’t need to buy anything new for this trip. My passport is up to date and most of each day will consist of swimwear so I’ll toss in some flip flops and sundresses and call it a day. 3. I picked up several books from our local Little Free Library to take along. The bulk of my suitcase is books and my pillow. I have neck issues and don’t go anywhere overnight without my own pillow! 4. I started working on the incentives from my insurance company as well. I can earn $100 a year. So I make sure to complete it. My husband also gets $100 so I keep track of his as well. And it keeps us on track for getting screenings, exams and vaccines. 5. Currently Purina has a rebate of $10 if you spend $25 on cat or dog treats. You can do it multiple times. You can also double dip as Ibotta has money back on Purina Busy Bones which my dog loves.

For the past 2 weeks, I have been eating down my frig and freezer! Remaking fruits and vegetables into pies and soups. So far a low spend January for food. $70, 2 weeks, 2 people. The things that were purchased were mainly specials to restock pantry, cereal, canned goods and fruit to share at church. Will continue this for rest of month as best possible to see where we end up and if we are able to reduce waste.

Hi, I was a private chef back in the 80's, monogrammed linen napkins every meal. So, when I married I thought, ahha, cloth napkins means one less thing to budget for (paper napkins). I made a dozen napkins out of discount or yard sale fabric. We used them for years, washed with the dish towels. For the last 20 years we daily use my handwoven napkins, and they have decades of wear left. They're beautiful, and durable, much nicer than using paper.

* DD wanted me to buy her a file folder for a second time this school year, since the clasp on hers broke. I said I would fix it instead, to which she was not too happy about (the horror!). And I did. I asked for a large button on my Buy Nothing group and got to work. It is now fixed, and looking good IMO.

* Same DD wanted a (third??) hairbrush at the Dollar Store, to which I said no since she already has one (or 2, or 3...). So she bought it herself (5$).

* Other DD needed new sneakers. She's really into Converse, but they are not cheap (80-110$ canadian). I did buy her 3 pairs of them, fake ones, in the last 1.5 year (she ruins them by walking in the snow... don't ask, she's 15!). So I decided to try the real ones, see if they hold better. But I waited to get a 20% coupon for my birthday + claimed a 10$ reward, so I got her a pair for 65$ taxes and shipping in. Hopefully they will fit!

* Went to Costco and stuck to the list. This is a first. Said no to DH suggestion of getting the girls some candy pouches for their lunch. If I am to pay for snacks, I want them to be at least a little healthy.

* Doing a low-buy 2025. So far so good. The only thing I paid for myself so far that is not a necessity is my gym membership cancellation fee, which was 65$. This will be saving me 180$ if I calculate what I would have had to pay for the remaining of the membership. I have all I need to work out at home and with free fitness classes offered by my city (Went to Zumba yesterday, that was fun!)