1. I bought a camera lens at a discount
I got my 50mm 1.4 lens in 2011, and I’ve used it probably 5/7 days a week ever since, for blog photos. I have definitely gotten my money’s worth out of it!
This lens is a little bit prone to focusing problems, and mine has really been getting worse and worse in the last few weeks.
I looked into repair, but that was estimated to cost $179. Which does not make a lot of sense on a $350 lens that’s 9 years old.
On the Canon repair page, though, they had a little blurb about an upgrade program. So I called, and they offered me a brand new 50mm 1.4 lens for $297, which is only slightly more than the refurbished price on Amazon.
Considering that’s only $120 more than the cost of the repair, I decided to go with the new one.
Of course, I will list the old one on eBay (I’ll disclose the issue of course!) and see what I can get for it.
And of course, I will save the receipt and deduct this camera lens from my taxes, since I use it for blogging.
(I know a $300 camera lens is not what you’d consider to be frugal, usually. But I feel sure that a new one was the right choice here instead of a repair, given the pricing I was quoted. And at least I got a good price on it.)
2. I saved $148 on car insurance
I realized that since we switched out of the Ratelock plan with Erie, it would make sense to adjust the mileage category for Mr. FG’s car, since he’s still working from home.
(In the Ratelock program, the mileage categorization does not affect the rate.)
So, before I paid our annual bill, I called and asked about it, and that knocked $148 off our bill.
Which is a drop in the bucket compared to the total bill, but still, its $148! I would be very happy if someone walked up to me and handed me that much money, you know?
(We pay our bill annually because there’s a discount for doing so. We divide by bill by 12 and each month, we have that amount automatically deposited into a Capital One 360 savings account. That way the money is there when the bill comes due each year.)
3. I bought uneven bacon at Aldi
I bought a package of unevenly sliced bacon at Aldi. This particular brand is cheaper because of the wonky slices, and who cares about unevenness if it needs to be chopped for the recipe?
4. I installed the 7-11 app for a free Slurpie
They didn’t do the free Slurpies on 7-11 day this year because obviously crowds of people are a bad idea right now.
But if you install the 7-11 app (or if you already have the app), you can get a free Slurpie anytime before 7/31/20.
I also got an offer for seven free fountain beverages in the app.
So, we’ll do a quick visit to our 7-11 store soon!
5. I…
- ate up the last of the leftover black beans with my egg burrito
- froze the mushy mango for smoothie use
- paid that annual car insurance bill with my Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card (might as well get some miles!)
(Of course, I will pay that card bill off right away because interest negates any rewards)
Hawaii Planner
Friday 17th of July 2020
1) We are making meals without a kitchen, so just the efforts there are frugal vs the alternative. 2) Used a couple of coupons for "critical" popsicles when it was super hot out 3) Sold a bunch of stuff, including an old cooler, motorcycle jacket, and hanging filing cabinets. All of which were old, and we were happy to get out of the house 4) As part of packing up our kitchen, found things we're not using pushed to the back of the cabinet. Got those listed on eBay. 5) Used grocery store gift cards (earned by buying gift cards we needed for our remodel) to pick up a few essentials & treats over the past few weeks.
Deidre
Thursday 16th of July 2020
I think your camera lens is frugal - isn't the whole point of being frugal is to spend our money on what matters to us? You use your camera because you love photography & it aids your income; & thanks for the reminder to work out the best deal & compare options - which is also frugal. Here are my FF: 1. Finding recipes to use what I have sometimes with help from Gemma on biggerbolderbaking.com I have lost count of the number of times I made microwave ramen noodles instead of getting takeout. I altered her recipe though to more stock less soy & more veg. 2. In my decluttering found some colouring books I forgot I bought - I confess I would rather colour ones made for kids; I get exhausted just looking at some of the really detailed adult ones. Anyhoo I did find an adult one with some simpler pictures that just look fun so I've started on that & the other two look brand new so I will use them as presents. 3. My colouring also means I am finally making use of all those textas I bought years ago that amazingly work great - I love those faber castel clip-it textas, so nice to use. 4. Didn't get 'round to cooking a marinated butterflied leg of lamb & remembered in time to freeze it before the useby date - Phew! 5. I love books & part of my decluttering is going through many books - I will keep many but to decide I read quite a few & now I'm reading a autobiographical one by Ken Duncan a well-known Australian photographer - it's huge & every page has amazing photos from his travels - I find myself in lockdown travelling to places I have never seen before - just beautiful.
Christina Miller
Wednesday 15th of July 2020
1. My favorite Kroger now has a Whoo Hoo section. I bought several protien bars for 25 cents each.
2. My neighbor gets a delivery of food from a local food bank and it is too much for her family to consume. So on food delivery day, she puts the extra food on her porch and lets neighbors take what they need. I took 2 cans of tomato sauce and a jar of peanut butter. I made spaghetti for my brother (who is a disabled veteran) and gave the peanut butter to him.
3. I love Swiffer for cleaning, but I do not like buying the disposable cloths. Instead, I squirt cleaner on the floor and wrap cleaning rags around the Swiffer mopping head. Then I throw the rags in the washer and reuse them.
4. I use white vinegar (from Aldi) instead of bleach in my washer. Clothes come really clean and fresh smelling without using bleach.
5. A friend moved out of state and gave me his vintage pop up camper. It has some water damage so I am working on repairing it and putting down a new vinyl floor this weekend myself.
Marianne
Wednesday 15th of July 2020
I have a spend some to save some, my dogs clippers are so old I could not find replacement blades for them. 3 cuts at a professional groomer will pay for my new set and I have 2 dogs to cut.
Lots of produce coming out of the garden. This year is the earliest I ever recall having red tomatoes. I know they like the warm nights & hot days.
I moved furniture around and swapped curtains out for a newly remodeled look. No money involved.
I am working from home but lack a dedicated office space so I bought my work chair home (which my son bought for me long ago) switched a table around so I at least have a no cost kind of workspace.
Kristen
Wednesday 15th of July 2020
Oh yes, clippers really pay for themselves in a hurry. Good call there.
lisa
Wednesday 15th of July 2020
Saving that much on car insurance is great! Which reminds me to shop for car and home insurance again.... The last time I did that, the salesman (lack of a better term) told me that our car insurance couldn't be as cheap as quoted because they looked into it and my husband got a ticket a year ago. And he never mentioned it!
My Fab Five: 1) I found Food Network dinner mixes in a box for 75 cents each. I add the chicken for chicken tikka masala. It's really good. 2) Earned a $10 GC from swagbucks and got items from Target. 3) Sold a book on ebay for my son. 4) Found a birthday lunch reward in a junk drawer that will expire in 2 weeks. That's when I get another one. 5) DS2 won a college scholarship for $1,000.
Kristen
Wednesday 15th of July 2020
Shopping for insurance can be super worthwhile. But man, it's easy to put off because it's so annoying to have to gather all the necessary information!