1. I took in the waist of Zoe’s pajama pants.
She’s in that unfortunate stage where the girls’ sizes seem to get really wide at the waist (is it just me, or is this definitely a thing that happens past size 10 or so??)
But, she’s not tall enough for junior’s sizes yet, and that’s when the waistbands really seem to come in.
So, we have waistband issues on pants that don’t come with adjusters, like these pajama pants, which we bought because they have dogs on them and Zoe loves dogs!
I had her try them on, and then I pinned and sewed two little tucks to keep her pants up.
Luckily, this doesn’t have to be a beautiful fix! It just needs to keep her pants from sliding down.
(I got around to this project because Zoe put it on the “I need Mom to…” list.)
2. I mended a towel.
Sometimes I wonder if kitchen towels are made with a special kind of thread that dissolves in laundry detergent.
Because man, mine always seem to be coming apart.
Luckily, this is a very easy fix, and since I already had the machine out for Zoe’s pajama pants, it took only maybe a minute extra to sew this up.
3. I’m using up my friend’s extra food.
She moved last week, to a state 6 hours away. Boo.
She couldn’t take all of her food with her, though, so she sent a bunch home with me rather than throwing it away.
(The good thing about being known as a food-waste-avoider is that people give you their food when they move! This is not the first time it’s happened to me. Heh.)
So, I’m making a point of cooking meals that use the extras she gave me, and it’s kind of a fun challenge.
noodle bowls, made with a sauce using peanut butter and soy sauce from my friend 🙂
4. I put Zoe’s zipper pull back together.
Her hoodie zipper pull came apart in the wash, and at first I thought it broke. But upon closer inspection, I realized it had just separated.
Luckily, I was able to find all the pieces in the washer, and I used a pair of needle-nose pliers to squeeze them back together. Sweet!
5. I put a Star Wars movie on hold at the library.
After my last Five Frugal Things post, a reader reminded me that my library might have the next movie for Mr. FG and the girls. I hadn’t thought to check there, as the DVD selection has gotten a lot slimmer in recent years.
But lo and behold, there it was on the website. Yay! And thank you, reader who suggested that!
6. Sneaking in a bonus one…
Sonia needs these special gel eye drops to use with her overnight contact lenses, and they are stupid expensive…like $18 for a little bottle. And the store-brand doesn’t work quite as well.
So when I saw CVS had a Buy One, Get One 50% off sale, I did a little happy dance.
I had a $10/$40 purchase coupon for CVS, plus I went onto the manufacturer’s website and found a $3 eye drop coupon.
I found some deals and coupons on other items too, so in the end, I got two bottles of gel eye drops, two bottles of eye allergy drops, one laundry detergent, one hand soap, and one tube of toothpaste all for $34.50, which is less than what two bottles of Sonia’s eye drops cost normally.
Marilyn
Tuesday 13th of February 2018
The only frugal thing that I have, is really not frugal. DH had a rx to be picked up, cashier rang it up and then it came out as n/c. We use a grocery store pharmacy in GA, when I got home I took out the sheet that tells about the drug, and there was a $2 off coupon. I was really excited nad wanted to tell someone. Have a blessed week.
Rachel
Tuesday 13th of February 2018
Happy almost Valentine's Day!
1) On that note, we've been making lots of homemade cards for my daughter's class (recycling cute images from previous birthday cards, magazines, etc.).
2) I'm so thankful for our freezer stash/pantry stash. Meals have been a little random or routine, but praise God we are fed.
3) I've been making after school snacks from scratch all week--muffins, oatmeal energy balls, trail mix. Using up some oldish apples.
4) Every offer to borrow homeschooling curriculum next year I say yes to, even if I'm not 100% sure on that resource. Seeing God provide friendship through that humility too.
5) I've been working on self-control on my chocolate stash. I can make a mini chocolate chips bag last 1-2 weeks now:)
Brittany
Saturday 17th of February 2018
Pantry/freezer stash is such a blessing when you're short on time or money! Snacks from scratch are the best! I don't have kids yet, but some of my fondest memories are coming home from school to fresh baked goodies :) Glad to see I'm not the only one who eats chocolate chips as a snack. I need to time how long it takes... perhaps write on the bag when I open it? Currently working on 60% dark choc chips I stocked up on at Aldi during the holidays. We've been eating healthier and tracking calories, so hopefully the chocolate chip consumption rate isn't alarmingly fast!
Lorraine
Tuesday 13th of February 2018
This is not really about a specific savings, but I spent a couple of hours this weekend re-examining my priorities and revamping my my budget to reflect what is happening in my life right now. I find that although I make small changes to the budget all the time, it needs a major overhaul every year or two as my needs and income shift. For a natural spender like me, it's a lot easier to be frugal when I keep the WHY in mind.
I saved $1 when I made sure to use the peel-off coupon on a grocery item this week. I often forget about those coupons (not much of a coupon user so I don't remember) and the clerks rarely notice them unless I point them out or peel them off.
I have decided to use my credit card points to offset the cost of a more-extravagant-than-usual birthday gift for my brother this year. So far I have about half the cost covered by points.
I am giving a gift of Bath and Body Works products to a friend for her birthday this week. I bought three of her favorite body products during the holidays when they were on sale for $5 each.
I am making a big batch of browned butter and sea salt rice krispy treats to take to the office for Valentine's day. I bought the store brand of marshmallows and the name brand so I can taste-test the difference. The store brand was half the cost of the name brand so it will save me money in the future if they are just as good!
Kristen
Tuesday 13th of February 2018
Yes! I think the WHY of saving is really important.
Jeanine
Monday 12th of February 2018
You have often commented on your mending. That is a good habit of yours, particular when you catch it early on.
1. I returned some unused items. 2. I ordered some things with Amazon Prime and chose the slower shipping option so I got a $5 credit coming to us in a future purchase. 3. I have been more intentional about not wasting food. We were slow in using up a loaf of bread, so I made a egg casserole with it. Also, just being more aware of the leftover containers in the fridge. 4. I am getting ready for a trip and trying to use what I have. Taking a good look at my clothes and not buying anything new. I was going to buy some single use almond packets to have on hand, but I made my own little trail mix with what I had. 5. Instead of meeting a friend for coffee, we met at my home and I served her tea here.
Kristen
Monday 12th of February 2018
Yes! Mending is such a great way to save money with your sewing skills. Making clothes from scratch is often not that frugal, but mending is almost always frugal.
Deidre
Monday 12th of February 2018
I love reading this site; so good to celebrate the skill it takes to run households well & acknowledge some of the struggles. Remembered the other day some of the things I do all the time that I started ages ago to be frugal but now just feel routine; 1. - I heard a plumber say once how much damage he sees in washing machines by the use of too much washing powder that causes build-up & how companies want us to use more than we need. I also heard others say they use heaps less than the packet says. I tried it out a long time ago use about 1/2 the measure suggested & it works fine. 2. - I buy good quality sliced bread from the baker & freeze it the day it's made so it never goes stale. It defrosts really well just sitting on a plate or in the microwave if I'm in a hurry 3. - After washing I hang good tops/tshirts on hangers from a triangle frame that hooks over a door, they dry within a day, mostly no ironing required or greatly reduced & already on hangers for the wardrobe. I find they last longer than if dried in the dryer & the dark t-shirts don't fade in the sun. 4. - I hang towels out on the line even if I think they won't fully dry to reduce the time needed in the dryer 5. - We buy good quality mostly ready grated parmesan from a deli & freeze it in a jar, it readily spoons out to sprinkle or measure out for a recipe & never goes bad before we've finished it.
Deidre
Monday 12th of February 2018
- and sliced frozen bread goes fine straight in the toaster