Five Frugal Things | shorts, period undies, and more

Hi Kristen, I love your blog! 1. When searching for a Fitbit, definitely something for fun and not a necessity for me, I realized they sell them at Kohl's. I had a Kohl's gift card from Christmas that I didn't need at the time that I used to buy a simple Fitbit and I only had to pay the tax! 2. Our library has been posting story time online so we make sure to watch it every week for free entertainment for my 2 preschoolers. 3. This is unintentionally frugal, but we have been receiving refunds from many cancelled camps and activities for my kids, so we have been throwing a lot of that into savings for future vacations, etc, so we can enjoy the money when we feel safe to travel again. 4. As a runner, I have taken advantage of a couple of free running programs/challenges on Facebook for extras accountability without spending extra money. 5. I wanted some leggings from Thredup, and if you chose the "bundle" option you for free shipping, you just had to wait an extra week before they shipped it. I didn't need to add anything to my bundle but I waited to extra week to save the $6 shipping fee.

1. Earned a $10 gift card through Fetch Rewards. I was expecting to make $3 but hit the points jackpot buying diapers and wipes for a friend who can't leave the house. That $10 went toward replacing my broken hairbrush. 2. The hairbrush was just one of a number of things that broke in quick succession. In a month, we had repairs to the washer, dryer, fridge (those three covered by our home warranty, thank heavens); had to replace the can opener and TV remote (on our dime); and DH smashed his glasses in a grocery cart (free repair, although the lens is scratched down the side). So the frugal thing is it could have been so much worse! 3. My fabric stash has given me so much stuff to repair things around the house. I wanted to make a summer valance for the living room window and found two throw pillow covers to take apart and reuse that fabric, along with some coordinating fabric for tab tops and some muslin for the backing. No money spent! 4. More zero dollar decorating: I also rescued my antique trunk from my son's room, where it was languishing under a coat of dust, cleaned it up and put it in our living room to store everyone's laptops and keep them off the floor. Our house is a 1952 California-style ranch and has a nook with a fireplace as the living room. The room's too small for a coffee table, but that little trunk looks great under the window. 5. Did a huge amount of mending at one go: stitched up all the seams on a slipcover, altered a muzzle that is a little too big for the dog (she is high-strung and snaps at people when she is scared), and altered the neckline of a thrifted shirt to make it more modest and thus much more wearable.

Hooray for frugality! Here are my 5 for today:

1. Had another homemade latte, and they’re easy to do! I just heat up milk in a mug in the microwave, and use a whisk to froth the milk up. I top the frothed milk with strong brewed coffee and then sprinkle cinnamon on top. It’s my frugal Starbucks-ish treat.

2. Ate a protein bar for breakfast that I’d gotten on sale. Makes for a cheap and frugal breakfast, and very fast too!

3. Will be staying in today, as I do most days. Enjoying quiet time to read.

4. Those books mentioned above - I purchased through a book outlet. Our libraries are closed, so I have treated myself to a few books online. (Reading is definitely my major form of entertainment!)

5. Since our gym is also closed down, we’ve been using our mini trampoline at home A LOT! If you research online, rebounding (bouncing on a trampoline) is an excellent exercise to burn fat and get the old lymphatic system cleaned out. Who knew!?!

Let's see, it's hard to remember! 1) I'm working on several large yard projects, to cut down the cost of having someone else help us. Pulling out ivy is a terrible project, but it causes rats to nest, and that's neither frugal nor fun. 2) Continuing to list items on eBay & making small sales. Packing all items in repurposed packaging 3) We are walking our neighbor's dog for her, as she can't get out right now. I've found many creative dog poop bag options around our house, vs tossing them. 4) Ate all meals at home, & we've done well with eating leftovers. 5) Picked up lemons that a neighbor had out with a "free" sign in their driveway. Juiced & now enjoy a bit of lemon juice in my water.

1. Got petrol for 86 cents/L which is about what it was in 1988 here 2. Eating waaay less takeaway which is good but still getting one meal per week to support restaurants & have a break from cooking & usually covers 2 meals 3. I'm cooking more with my microwave - discovered trick from utube to wrap & rest potato in foil after cooking, makes a microwave baked potato pretty good. 4. Have made some excellent progress in tidying & decluttering which in turn is helping me be more efficient with lots of things, discovering hidden gems like a manual spice grinder I forgot I bought from a thrift store (still in box unused) & oddly helping me buy less as I develop skills to only buy what I really need or will be really beneficial 5. Found a plain greek yoghurt I really like to have with fruit & doubles as topping for nachos or creamy dressing instead of wasting a jar of mayo or sour cream I will never finish - no added sugar is a bonus ( NB I have no intention at this stage to go sugar free I love cake & chocolate but I am looking for ways to cut down on unnecessary sugar, e.g. when I have the energy I make a thick fasoloada ( tomato/beans/vegies to replace baked beans which have too much salt & sugar)