Five Frugal Things | eBay fangirling

This list highlights my roommate's efforts than mine:

1. He thought to check if you could buy a dishwasher rack (the tines on my new-to-me one are rusting and falling off) rather than replace the whole thing.

2. He split (some of the) logs from the tree I had to take down, rather than buying or scrounging wood.

3. He used $10 of parts to repair two multi-head standing lamps.

4. He swapped screen door panels. Now the one I don't use has a ripped panel and the one we do use has intact panels.

1. Trash picked a like new cat condo for my cat 2. Mailroom at my apartment complex usually has stuff people no longer want. Today I got a garbage bag full of clothes for my mom. 3. Eating down the pantry and donated food that was probably not going to be eaten before it expires. 4. Negotiated the lease on my apartment saving $30/month. 5. I quit drinking soda which saves $, MI health, and the environment since I’m just drinking filtered tap water now.

Hi Kristen, just wanted you to know that your granola recipe has saved me from buying cereal during this entire pandemic! I love it so much, let me see if I can devote a whole FFT to celebrating it...

1. I shared the recipe with a friend who is a professional recipe writer (not sure the exact job title, but she creates recipes for a living.) She tried cutting the syrup and oil by half, and it's still delicious! A bit less clump-a-licious, but since I'm eating it as cereal, it's fine.

2. I don't normally measure it out, but I'm struggling with pandemic cooking/baking-related weight gain, so I'm trying a new tactic. 1/2 cup granola, topped with some plain yogurt and fresh berries turns out to be quite filling. Now each batch lasts longer.

3. I've discovered a store that sells Costco returns. I found a giant Costco-size box of Quaker Old Fashion Oats for about $6. That's 25% less than the normal warehouse price. The outer carton had been opened and resealed, but the inner bags were perfectly intact.

4. I'm on my last jug of Costco Maple Syrup. I didn't want to make a Costco run just yet, so I was poking around the pantry and discovered a bottle of fancy bourbon flavored syrup that Costco stocked over the holidays. I like to give syrup or olive oil for hostess gifts; they're much more memorable than a bottle of wine. This syrup got so many raves that I picked up an extra for us, then stuck it in the pantry and promptly forgot about it.

5. We made a Winco run when we happened to be near one. (No Winco or Aldi near home, but both are close to our rentals.) I stocked up on reasonably priced coconut for granola and still have plenty left in a well-sealed container. I usually mix sweetened and unsweetened in equal parts with good results.

6. All the nuts and spices are from Costco or Winco, so I have enough on hand to make many more batches. (I usually add Cinnamon, Allspice, Cloves and Nutmeg for added flavor. )

7. I chop up the almonds in my old Cuisinart, which has a brand-new, free blade, thanks to a tip from The Frugal Girl.

8. It's relatively cool today, so I will mix up a double batch this afternoon and bake it while I'm making dinner.

9. Of course I use Kristen-recommended silicone pan liners (purchased on sale at Costco), so less oil used, and easier clean-up.

10. Far less packaging waste than buying cereal in boxes.

There! I did it! Now I'm hungry for breakfast.

1. Picked up a ton of heirloom tomatoes off Buy Nothing and made a ridiculous amount of salsa. Total cost was maybe $2. 2. Made a year's worth of homemade pickles. Total cost was $4. 3. Picked up a vintage Christmas decoration off a free site. It's worth $100 on eBay. I will sell closer to Christmas. 4. My aunt gave me a barely used Vera Bradley laptop bag to bring my laptop back and forth to work. I needed one and it's super cute! 5. We are enrolling my son in a private school this week. Public schools here are not opening full time in September. But some private schools are able to maintain social distancing due to smaller class size. We are very impressed with the school and it is substantially cheaper than enrolling him in daycare. So, ultimately not cheap but better than quitting my job and losing my pension.

FFT, Immediate Post-Retirement Edition:

As noted in my comment on the most recent NCA post, I handed in my final editing project on 7/14, and my employers are letting me run out the clock on accumulated vacation time till my official retirement date of 8/1. Here's what I've got for my first two weeks, large and small:

(1) Much of this time, alas, has been taken up by DH's ongoing Alzheimer's-related decline. The good news, however, is that his latest new med (Risperdal) seems to be kicking in and helping with the most distressing symptoms (anxiety, agitation, and delusions). Relief, however temporary, from worry about these = priceless.

(2) I'm also fighting the usual critter wars in the garden. I've decided that next year's garden will be A. Marie's Herb Farm, Onion Patch, and Pickle Factory--since herbs, onions/garlic, and cucumbers seem to be the only crops I can maintain against the deer/woodchuck onslaught. Adapting to reality = also priceless.

(3) This year's beef (1/4 steer, purchased as usual from a friend who raises the animals) will be arriving this weekend, so I'm doing whatever I can to clear out the freezer. Sadly, this friend is no longer raising pigs, since he and his wife aren't getting any younger and since pigs (by their account) are more trouble than steers.

(4) Made a half gallon of very fine sun tea (I used some of the Twinings English Breakfast bags I overbought at Ollie's some time ago) on the most recent broiling hot day.

(5) And we've had ratatouille twice in the past two weeks, using tomatoes, eggplants, and zucchini from our Farmers' Market to supplement the few tomatoes and eggplants I've been able to save from Bambi and Woody. Zucchini, IMHO, is not worth the garden space it takes up, but I'm happy to shell out 50 cents now and then for a zuke at the FM.