This is one of those weeks where I was feeling unsure I could come up with five!
Prepare yourself, none of mine are going to be ground-breaking. 😉
(And number five is the one where I need your advice.)
1. I used a gift card to get my wifi service
As I mentioned the other day, I was having power issues at my house, so I ended up going to Starbucks to get my schoolwork done after clinical.
But I did use a gift card to pay for the coffee, so it was $0 out of pocket for me.
(Gift card via points from somewhere….I think from Fetch, maybe?)
2. I packed my lunch for my clinical days again
I still have my no-hospital-cafeteria-food streak going. 😉
3. I bought some marked-down chicken at Aldi
50% off? Yes, please. 🙂
4. I mended a potholder
The stitching just started coming off of this potholder randomly. But fixing a potholder is very easy with a sewing machine!
I’m not a sewing expert, but I was surprised to see what long stitch length the manufacturer used on this. I’m guessing it’s a cost-saving mechanism.
But in my experience, a long stitch length usually makes an item more prone to needing repair in a jiffy.
5. Should I mend my Darn Tough socks?
I have a pair of Darn Tough socks that developed a little hole. I know they have a guarantee where they will replace your socks, but I’m wondering if I should just do a little hand-sewing repair of the hole instead.
If I send my socks to them, the socks will just get thrown out and not used, but if I repair the little hole, I can keep using the socks.
What would you do?
Alison
Tuesday 4th of March 2025
I would assume they don’t have you send the socks back to them but just send a picture of the hole (and discard them yourself). So I’d go for the replacement and also mend the hole!
Jl
Thursday 27th of February 2025
This is not frugal. This is stingy. Buy a new pair of socks for God's sake
AW
Thursday 20th of February 2025
I mend my husband's cotton socks often so I think it's worth the time but if these socks cost more than the standard, I'd return them and get another pair.
My Frugal 5 1) Got some free goodies from the Food Pantry at the church I volunteer weekly for. Received Valentine's Day gifts that I could repurpose for Easter baskets for my kids or use as future gifts for them. Also got a few food items: a container of pre-cut mango, Costco giant chocolate chip cookies and a couple of drinks. 2) Received some extra groceries from my generous mother and sister in law who visited. 3) Took advantage of the free events at the library. My girl had weekly ukulele lessons there. We may attend an event today about getting to know Vietnamese culture and that will be a continuation of our Lunar's New Year celebration. We also read books, watched movie and played games we borrowed from the library. 4) Brought some discount used lego sets for my girls for their future birthdays and study guide for my bible study on eBay. 5) My usual: Used up and cook food from home. Made coffee and pack lunch for my husband. Used Ibotta and Fetch. Batch run errands. Walked and picked up kids from school. Stayed home mostly and bundled up since it's negative degree weather. Mend clothing and toys.
Nikki
Wednesday 19th of February 2025
1. We cooked all our meals at home. We brewed (most of) our coffee at home. I used a gift card one day for "fancy" coffee. We baked banana chocolate chip muffins. 2. We got books from the library. 3. I used the Libby app to get a free audiobook with my library card. 4. I did multiple errands on the same trip to save gas. 5. I fixed the zipper on my son's coat. 6. We didn't go anywhere on Presidents Day, because it was about -25 F before wind chill. It is easy not to spend money when you don't leave the house.
Julia
Wednesday 19th of February 2025
I don’t love darning so I would probably just leave it until it got bigger and then send them back. I wish I had blue socks. I wonder if I’ll be able to find them in thrift stores? What I wouldn’t give for hand knit socks… I wonder who knits?
1. I’m reusing my gallon Ziploc bags as mini greenhouses for my newly planted six packs. I’m also using plastic meat trays, cleaned, of course, underneath to catch drips.
2. 30% off breakfast sausage x 2 means we had sausage for breakfast today, Sunday, and tomorrow, with 8 more links in the freezer.
3. I made incredible Cubano sandwiches using leftover pork from a roast, plus cheese and pickles and hot sauce, and I made Panini‘s with leftover brioche hotdog buns. They were so good we had them for dinner and then for lunch the next day.
4. I have been protesting to my congressman and senators almost daily using resistbot’s free email version. I donated a lot of money in the fall before the election and it’s not in my budget now to donate but I can certainly do a free email comment.
5. I volunteered to hostess one of my group’s monthly meetings, and the theme was Valentine’s Day. So starting in January, I looked at fabric at the thrift stores, looking for one yard-pieces in pink or red or hearts, and I was able to cobble together enough table coverings, using these cute fabrics for four big tables and one long buffet table. The colorful fabric went on top of the white tablecloths. I was able to do this for less than $20. And it looks so beautiful when the room was decorated. All thrifted, all reusable. Also, I couldn’t get my sewing machine to work so I pinked anll the edges which saved me some time and effort.