1. I cut Sonia and Zoe’s hair
Sonia wanted a trim, which is pretty easy to do on wavy hair. Any mistakes are quite invisible!
I used the at-home bob method that I outlined in this post (where Sonia was the model for the photos, actually. Just a much smaller Sonia!)
And I buzzed Zoe’s undercut, which is a very easy job.
She’s growing out her pixie cut, but keeping the undercut because her hair is so, so thick. We thought keeping the undercut would help make her ponytail a manageable size.
(I am awfully jealous of Zoe’s thick hair. Even when the undercut is buzzed super short, you can barely see her scalp.)
2. I bought extra cheese to freeze.
If you watched my “Here’s why your homemade pizza is terrible” video, you know that I am very particular about my pizza cheese.
It’s got to be the semi-soft kind that comes in a one-pound chunk; it seriously makes such a difference.
This cheese normally costs $5-$6/pound, but I found it on sale for $3/pound.
So, I bought two pounds, shredded it, and froze it.
Cheese does not freeze well in blocks, but if you shred it first, it does very well in the freezer.
So, if you have some you need to freeze before it molds, or you are wanting to stock up on sale cheese, just make sure it’s shredded before you freeze it.
3. I have made a lot of food saves
I tell ya, doing this online Fight Your Food Waste course is really helping ME to stay on track with fighting food waste.
(The course is closed for now, but it’ll open back up again in January.)
For instance, my cousin had a bag of potatoes she was not going to get around to cooking (pregnancy sickness will do that to ya!) So, she gave them to me.
I made mashed potatoes one day for lunch for Sonia and myself.
I ate mine with leftover chicken and leftover sauce.
Then the next morning, I heated up the leftover potatoes and topped them with two fried eggs.
4. I (finally) got to return a college textbook
Due to an error on the college’s part, I bought a book for Sonia that she didn’t need.
I’ve been waiting since September for a return label (since the bookstore is closed). I’d contacted them several times to ask for one, but they said they had a backlog and that I needed to wait.
So I patiently waited two months (!), then I contacted them again via email and this time I actually got a label.
Which means $42 is about to be refunded to my account. And it also means I can stop looking at this book that has been sitting on top of my piano for months.
5. I used a repurposed bag in place of plastic wrap
I was making a pan of polenta for fried mush (in preparation for redoing that old post!), and I needed to cover the pan while it refrigerated overnight.
I don’t keep plastic wrap around because it’s too tempting to use it if it’s there!
So, I grabbed a bagel bag that I’d saved and slid the loaf pan inside the bag.
Plastic wrap is not very expensive, so this one is really more about avoiding waste than saving money.
But it IS slightly cheaper to use a repurposed bag than a length of plastic wrap.
isa
Wednesday 25th of November 2020
* I've been decluttering like crazy for the past couple days, putting everything aside for charity, so this is not frugal (LOTS of wasted money). But it puts me in the right mindset about being more mindful with my spending, and I'm kicking off a 12 months shopping ban on December 1st. On a side note, I'm trying to sell some key items and so far I made 50$ on a winter coat and a watch. Better than nothing.
* Still using the city pass for myself and the family. 60$\year\family for indoor skating, pool, badminton, library? Yes please!
* I'm a health care worker so my attire is very low key (and cheap): yoga pants or scrubs, t-shirts. I don't care about hair styling or products (always in a pony tail) and I put no make-up on (lipstick before Covid, but not anymore since masks). So I don't have to "dress up for work", a lot of money saved right there. The only real expense is good running shoes.
* My SIL is getting married in February (maybe?), and my MIL asked me what color of dress I'll be buying for it. Easy answer : I'm wearing a dress I already own, that I got for 20$ at the thrift store (with a 20% off coupon, of course!). Shoes are also thrifted ones. No shopping for a "one-time-special-occasion"for me. It's a very nice dress too, I have no problem re-using it for other weddings to come.
* Looking at our budget of the last 5 years, we've been spending an average of 975$\month on groceries and restaurants. We will try to lower this to 675$ from now on... Wish me luck!
betta from daVille
Wednesday 25th of November 2020
I'd love to know more about your 12-month buying ban. (What does it include, what does it not include, etc. etc.)
Cathy in NJ
Wednesday 25th of November 2020
1. Haircut for myself (wavy) and for my husband (straight) . Both came out well. 2. Christmas gifts on thredup with thredup credits and Disney with credit card points. 3. Forgot I had a promo code. Called Disney and they gave me the discount. DD loves Baby Yoda. 4. Coffee at home. Tea at home. Breakfast, lunch, dinner at home. 5. Looking at outdoor sculpture in town, Christmas decorations and walking for entertainment.
Mary
Wednesday 25th of November 2020
I am trying to reduce our use of plastic. It is tough! I reuse bags, bought deodorant in a glass jar, don’t buy plastic wrap. Things that are in plastic containers only I try to buy large containers so I cut down on the number I buy in a year. Our water heater just died, so I cannot think of savings right now.
Julia
Wednesday 25th of November 2020
1. Was gifted a big box of food: carrots, apples, potatoes, onions, yogurt, meatballs, hotdogs, cheese. Shared what we won’t be able to use before it goes bad. 2. DS needed new pants for cold weather. He has gotten so tall! He loves sweatpants. Was able to find them for a bit over $6 each on the fruit of the loom website. And in his fav color, red. Ordered for him and DH so I could get free shipping. 6 pair of sweat pant and one long sleeved top, $45 and free shipping. 3. Completed all shopping for Thanksgiving on Monday. Will cook whole chicken from freezer instead if turkey. 4. Found two android tablets in neighbors trash. Both work. Kept one and gave one to a friend. Also found some new in box things (candle sets, wall art) in other neighbors trash. Gave to a friend who is struggling to pay for Christmas gifts this year. I also found her a trunk that she will repaint for her DD for Christmas. She made me a beautiful wreath for my door in exchange. 5. Walking, cooking, reading free books from local little free libraries, cut DSs hair, hatched some chicken eggs and will trade chicks for produce. We have had so much fun with the chicks but our small backyard can really only handle the 4 chickens we have.
Kelly
Wednesday 25th of November 2020
1). I went through my entire yarn stash (I’m knitter) and reorganized it. I’ve planned out gifts and projects using what I already have.
2). Continuing our weekly by appointment library visits for both reading for fun and homeschool.
3). Using only supplies on hand for homeschool projects. One of my girls made a longhouse and the other made a Mayflower. We ran out of brown construction paper so they used paper grocery bags.
4). Using Target drive up pick up. I’m only getting what I intended to get and stopping when I am near the store.
5). We decided to create a home office in our basement ourselves rather than paying someone. The project started this week.