1. I successfully used up a failed yogurt batch
I almost never have a yogurt fail but…this time I used a store-brand cup of yogurt as a starter (the Yoplait was sold out) and I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER.
My batch of yogurt turned out like slightly thickened milk.
And I know it was the starter’s fault because I am well and truly a pro at yogurt-making after all these years. I know I wasn’t the problem.
I didn’t want to throw it away, though, so….I made smoothies with it.
made with peaches I froze from last summer’s bruised peaches
peaches plus spinach!
I used it as the liquid in my whole wheat blueberry pancakes.
And I used it to make chia pudding (with protein powder mixed in because I am dutifully using up my big bag of powder!)
2. I renewed my symphony membership
The bigger city near me has a student membership, which costs $35 for a year, and once you are a member, you can get a free ticket to performances and you can bring someone else along for $10.
So, $35 is a screaming bargain as long as you haul yourself to the symphony fairly regularly. I definitely got my money’s worth last year, and I will this year too.
I immediately reserved a ticket for my first no-clinicals weekend. 🙂
3. I used a discount at Noodles and Company
I did another mammoth study session with two of my classmates on Sunday (3:30-9:30!) and we ended up at Noodles and Company for dinner. I opened up my app, found a “buy one, get one 50% off” discount, and shared it with one of my classmates.
Obviously, this didn’t save me any money, but it did help a friend! 🙂
A funny thing about going to college in mid-life: you have study groups with people who are your children’s ages! Shared with permission from both classmates. 😉
4. I packed two more clinical lunches
I know this is a repetitive item on my lists, but as we know, consistency is important. 😉
A nice thing about packing my lunches: I can always bring something I know won’t give me a post-lunch sugar crash. That’s a little harder to do with cafeteria options.
5. A fail: I’m getting a speeding ticket
This happened the other morning and I was like, “Well, thank goodness I don’t have to tell anyone.” and then I immediately proceeded to tell at least five people.*
So then I figured, hey, why not tell you guys too?
*Lisey and I both operate this way. We have never in our lives moved in silence. Be mysterious? We could never.
Ok, I rolled out of bed early one morning to catch a sunrise at a park. So far, so good.
On my way, during the 6:00 am hour, I passed an elementary school, going the regular posted speed limit, but APPARENTLY the school speed limit starts at 6:00 am.
Who has ever heard of an elementary school speed limit starting that early???? Not me.
I saw a flash of light from one of those speed cameras go off and was very confused.
But on my way back I double-checked the school speed limit hours and sure enough, they start at 6:00 am. Wild.
It did take a little work for me to talk myself through it, largely because my brain was framing this as an expensively-obtained sunrise experience, and I had a bit of a tough time shaking it off.
(I am an expert on how to make yourself miserable after a money mistake!)
I did eventually manage to tell myself that it’s fine, I have the money to pay for it, it’s just a camera ticket so it won’t be crazy expensive, and it’s only human to make mistakes.
But I thought you might appreciate hearing about it, in case you feel like you’re the only one. 😉
Your turn! What frugal things have you been up to lately?
(Hopefully: not getting speeding tickets.)
Tammy
Monday 28th of April 2025
That bowl looks like it has a suspiciously small handle that fits very few fingers. :)
Karen.
Wednesday 23rd of April 2025
I know I'm late so no guarantee you'll even see this, but something I'm very glad about on your behalf is that you're having the opportunity to have a college experience. So many people who don't go to college right out of high school never get that bonding with classmates, who are usually people you wouldn't run into in just the normal course of your days and especially if some of them have moved far from home to go to school, and the balancing-all-the-things-run-from-here-to-there experience that is truly invaluable on so many fronts.
Linda Phillips
Wednesday 23rd of April 2025
I also got a ticket in a school zone. The school is only a block from me, so I was on autopilot heading home at 35 MPH. The camera was newly installed. School had been out for an hour. There wasn't a child (or an adult) in sight. A few days later a ticket arrived in my mailbox. $100. ouch!
Book Club Elaine
Tuesday 22nd of April 2025
Kristen, all three of those lovely nursing students look quite young to me! There is a camera ticket trap right down the road from my church. It looks like a fat mailbox - I never would have known what it was if a friend hadn't pointed out the tiny red light on the front. It's kind of scary looking. I got my only speeding ticket ever almost four decades ago. I still remember my stomach feeling like I was on a roller coaster - that's how fast I was going. I've mended my wicked ways and saved a lot of money.
Selena
Tuesday 22nd of April 2025
Mine are perhaps not all so frugal but being frugal allows one to be a good person and generous at times. 1 - technically not frugal for us but for the recipient, passed along a $10 gift card I won at a fundraiser. The restaurant is not conveniently located for us to patronize. 2 - did use another gift card I won. Had to pony up a bit more but left the wait person a nice tip. We usually tip more around a holiday 3 - Better half won (really good) ball game tickets at the fundraiser. Since you make plans and life happens, we're discussing to whom to offer the tickets if a life event happens. 4 - Got a bill for almost $595 for a procedure better half had last fall. I have the receipt for his co-pay, know the check number for the $21 I paid, and the insurer's EOB. Accounts receivable person is flummoxed so will follow up with billing and let me know. Ever since they converted to EPIC system, their billing has been a pain. 5 - Effort spent last fall weeding our asparagus and strawberry patches paid off. A little bit of weeding required but not much. I do need to rake off the sedge/catnip/asparagus end, the leaves did not burn up well. And time to dig up and transplant more sedge. It appears to be a companion plant to catnip and asparagus at our home.