What frugal thing did you do today? - Page 48

Ima saver · #**941** (**permalink**) 10-31-2006, 07:18 AM

The heat is off, the hot water is off and I have left over's for lunch today. I found a quarter on the floor of a business.

Thrifty Ray · #**942** (**permalink**) 10-31-2006, 08:27 AM

I am drinking coffee made from my free sample of Folgers Vanilla Biscotti!!

yumm.....in my book it is just as good as any coffee drink Ive ever bought!!

disneysteve · #**943** (**permalink**) 10-31-2006, 06:30 PM

This wasn't frugal for me, but it will be for the recipients. My receptionist is getting married in 2 weeks. I'll be out of town next week so I want to give her a gift before I leave. She and her fiance do okay, but money is somewhat tight, so we didn't want to give them something impractical that would just sit on a shelf or get buried in a closet.

I got them 4 gift cards. One for the local donut shop chain where she buys her coffee. One for Wal-Mart because they recently got a new digital camera for the wedding and honeymoon and will come home with lots of photos to print. One for Home Depot because he is very handy and is always fixing or renovating something in the house. And one for the Christmas Tree Shop which sells a wide variety of housewares, gift and decorative items and food, something for everyone.

Normally, I don't care for gift cards, but for them, I think they will be very appreciated.

BCHGRL · #**944** (**permalink**) 10-31-2006, 06:44 PM

The only Halloween expense was candy. Forget costumes and crazy decorations, the candy alone is expensive!

Also, I thought of some pretty frugal gift ideas for Christmas. For our wedding, one of our presents was a gift certificate to Pier One for $50. I decided to buy two $25 gift certificates and give one each to an aunt and an uncle. Also, i have one uncle that is wealthy (no kids or spouse or former spouses) who thought it was hilarious last year to give DH and I straight-from-the-grocer pork. Since he thought is was just too funny (we didn't), we are going to give him 1lb of ground beef for Christmas. For my father-in-law who has everything and needs nothing, we are going to give him a gift certificate for Omaha steaks.

Also, i'm excited because this Saturday is our subdivision's annual yard sale. I hope to make enough money to cover DH's Christmas.

frugalelf · #**945** (**permalink**) 10-31-2006, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jacklad

I made baby food for all three of mine just using a hand blender (the stick sort). My neighbour is using one of those Magic Bullets.

I made big batches and froze them in ice cube trays, transferring them when frozen to freezer bags. I found the hand blender to be the most convenient thing, because I always have it handy on my counter. For the bigger batches, I blended right in the pot!

Jackie

I have been using a hand mixer with some luck but the baby finds some veggies and fruits have too much "texture". Sigh! Maybe I am not blending enough? Or steaming them enough? I have an automatic ice cube maker so I saved all the Gerber plastic containers from store bought baby food, ran them through the dishwasher an refilled them with veggies and froze. Really....$1.29 for a 2-pack of veggies or fruit?! It's so expensive and I use coupons, too! Back to the baby food, I wonder if I use the hand mixer and then force it through a seeve? sp? I have a freecycler that has a "potato ricer, which was new to me that she said I could pick up. She said she used it for her kids. I'll try that, too. I'm always looking for cutting corners, I blend in the pot, too!! Thanks for the advice, much appreciated! Pattie

frugalelf · #**946** (**permalink**) 10-31-2006, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by disneysteve

I'm not sure this is exactly frugal, but it was certainly a good move.

I get many invites to do online surveys. Honestly, I pass up far more of them than I do because I'm busy with other things or just not in the mood. Now I'm not talking about your every day surveys that pay $3 or $5. I'm talking about physician surveys that pay quite well.

Well, I sat down tonite and did 3 surveys for $50, $50 and $115. Took me all of about 1 hour to complete all 3. So $215 for an hour or my time. Not a bad deal at all.

Physician surverys, Steve? Please share your information. I try all sorts of surveys but they are more "drawing for a prize" type deals. I'd like to spend my time on surveys that really pay. I've never seen the type you described. Thanks, Steve! Pattie

frugalelf · #**947** (**permalink**) 10-31-2006, 10:49 PM

I have been hanging clothes on my wooden rack to dry near the monitor heater....well, as many as the family will allow. They still like things like jeans, sheets, and towels from the electric dryer. I also have been opening the door to the dishwasher the minute it hits the dry cycle. I just let them air dry. We all know anything with a heating element jacks up the electric bill.

I hit the Dump Store today and picked up a few nice finds. A french egg basket, a small leather suitcase [mint!] a brand new snowman nutcracker, small but so sweet, to hang on the tree. Two rolls of very nice wallpaper border....still wrapped, in an awesome pear pattern, [early american] and a rose lattice for the side of the house in very good condition, and a sweet asian ceramic heart with cover that my daughter snatched up. $3.00 total. Didn't have a lot of time but I was satisfied!

disneysteve · #**948** (**permalink**) 11-01-2006, 05:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frugalelf

Physician surverys, Steve? Please share your information. I try all sorts of surveys but they are more "drawing for a prize" type deals. I'd like to spend my time on surveys that really pay. I've never seen the type you described. Thanks, Steve! Pattie

These are surveys on various medical topics for physicians. I'm a family practice doc. If any of you are physicians, or have spouses who are physicians, I'd be happy to make a list of some of the survey companies I deal with. Did another survey last nite for $80. Took me less than 15 minutes.

frugalmomof1 · #**949** (**permalink**) 11-01-2006, 01:48 PM

Went to a seminar for work and they paid for lunch...will also get reimbursed for mileage.

LuxLiving · #**950** (**permalink**) 11-01-2006, 04:35 PM

Reheated sausage gravy to eat with the leftover drop biscuits for lunch. Goooooood!!

fairy74 · #**951** (**permalink**) 11-02-2006, 08:28 AM

Ate leftover pizza and homemade coffee for breakfast, instead of being sucked in by Starbucks! Yay!

tinapbeana · #**952** (**permalink**) 11-02-2006, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fairy74

Ate leftover pizza and homemade coffee for breakfast, instead of being sucked in by Starbucks! Yay!

yay no starbucks! *g*

and isn't leftover pizza one of the best? sometimes i think i like it better out of the fridge in the morning that hot out of the box the night before.

dossin1 · #**953** (**permalink**) 11-02-2006, 09:14 AM

I didn't go shopping at JC Penney today, even though I had a 10% off coupon

Duchesse · #**954** (**permalink**) 11-02-2006, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by disneysteve

I'm not sure this is exactly frugal, but it was certainly a good move.

I get many invites to do online surveys. Honestly, I pass up far more of them than I do because I'm busy with other things or just not in the mood. Now I'm not talking about your every day surveys that pay $3 or $5. I'm talking about physician surveys that pay quite well.

Well, I sat down tonite and did 3 surveys for $50, $50 and $115. Took me all of about 1 hour to complete all 3. So $215 for an hour or my time. Not a bad deal at all.

Where in the world do you find such profitable surveys

JanH · #**955** (**permalink**) 11-02-2006, 05:03 PM

I don't remember who posted it, but I dug out my swiffer and cut up an old towel to make "cleaning pads" for it and did my kitchen floor. Works like a charm. I hated buying those expensive pads and retired the swiffer. Now I will use it all the time. Thanks for the idea!

tinapbeana · #**956** (**permalink**) 11-02-2006, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JanH

I don't remember who posted it, but I dug out my swiffer and cut up an old towel to make "cleaning pads" for it and did my kitchen floor. Works like a charm. I hated buying those expensive pads and retired the swiffer. Now I will use it all the time. Thanks for the idea!

even better (IMO) are the microfiber clothes you can now find at almost any dollar store. they fold in half to fit a swiffer so you can use both sides, and most of the dust/hair sticks to them better than anything else i've tried. i dry dust w/ them, then get 'em wet to mop!

tinapbeana · #**957** (**permalink**) 11-02-2006, 05:56 PM

ok, here's my frugal deed of the day: i bought 8.26 lbs of petite sirloin steaks on sale at $2.99/lb (regular $6.99/lb), saving myself 57.23% off of regular price. i also found smithfield thick cut bacon 1lb packs 2 for $5 regularly $4.59 each, saving 43.57% off regular price, and almost a buck below even the store brand (which isn't as good).

and now i have steaks and beef for soup and stew and bacon for sandwiches and green beans and pintos and... ok, i think i need to brainstorm a menu!

Broken Arrow · #**958** (**permalink**) 11-02-2006, 06:24 PM

*staring hungrily outside Tina's window*

I had a no-spend day. The result of a backlash from yesterday's dinner out....

tinapbeana · #**959** (**permalink**) 11-02-2006, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Broken Arrow

*staring hungrily outside Tina's window*

haaaaaaaaaaahahahahaha! you know, i actually get that a lot...

we're big grilling fans, and after 3 months in the neighborhood all the cats come running when they smell our grill light up. i don't know why, i don't feed them. maybe it's an exercise in patience and hope.

JanH · #**960** (**permalink**) 11-02-2006, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tinapbeana

even better (IMO) are the microfiber clothes you can now find at almost any dollar store. they fold in half to fit a swiffer so you can use both sides, and most of the dust/hair sticks to them better than anything else i've tried. i dry dust w/ them, then get 'em wet to mop!

Thanks for the info, Tina!