What frugal thing did you do today?
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Re: What frugal thing did you do today?
Used my forever stamps that went for $.49 apiece to $.55 apiece to mail a flat rate medium sized box to D. Used 26 forever stamps + 5 $.01 stamps. Then went to Costco to buy $55 in forever stamps for $49.75. I’m happy they’re still available at the lower price, even though the cost went up last Sunday.
Re: What frugal thing did you do today?
My dinner was a KIND protein bar that I got for free while walking the dog. She liked it too (almonds).
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Re: What frugal thing did you do today?
Since it has been like -20 here, spouse is out of town, and I haven't needed to really leave the house I cut back on showers this week.
Re: What frugal thing did you do today?
Hahaha.... We have a winner for the week.michaeljc70 wrote: ↑Fri Feb 01, 2019 7:43 pm Since it has been like -20 here, spouse is out of town, and I haven't needed to really leave the house I cut back on showers this week.
OP, I recommend you bathe before your spouse returns. As many threads on this forum have shown, divorce is VERY expensive. LOL....
In all seriousness, to you and everyone else dealing with this arctic blast, bundle up and stay safe!!
Nothing in this post constitutes legal or medical advice. |
Consult your attorney or physician to verify if/how anything stated might or might not be applicable to your specific situation.
Re: What frugal thing did you do today?
+1.
Bearcub, MHL's marketing is great - Livin' the high life, etc. Which is precisely why you shouldn't be drinking MHL, hahaha.
Please splurge on craft beers (I love experimenting and finding the economical ones that appeal to my palette!) or try home brewing or picking up a growler from your local microbrewery and refilling as needed.
I am VERY frugal, but hey. If beer is part of how you enjoy life (as it is for me), life's waaay too short to be drinking crappy beer. Just sayin'.....
Nothing in this post constitutes legal or medical advice. |
Consult your attorney or physician to verify if/how anything stated might or might not be applicable to your specific situation.
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Re: What frugal thing did you do today?
No doubt. The days of quaffing Miller High Life and PBR are in the rear view mirror...SoAnyway wrote: ↑Fri Feb 01, 2019 10:45 pm+1.
Bearcub, MHL's marketing is great - Livin' the high life, etc. Which is precisely why you shouldn't be drinking MHL, hahaha.
Please splurge on craft beers (I love experimenting and finding the economical ones that appeal to my palette!) or try home brewing or picking up a growler from your local microbrewery and refilling as needed.
I am VERY frugal, but hey. If beer is part of how you enjoy life (as it is for me), life's waaay too short to be drinking crappy beer. Just sayin'.....
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Re: What frugal thing did you do today?
Go to my library for free movies & audio books.
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Re: What frugal thing did you do today?
Asked checkout clerk for extra plastic bags to be used (1 time) for packaging lunches.
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Re: What frugal thing did you do today?
I cut my cell phone plan cost from $29.95 a month (unlimited talk/text and 3gb data) to $12 a month (500 min talk, 300 MB data), as I rarely use data, and do few messags, and actually few calls on my iPhone 6. I realized that the auto payment every month was just a leakage of money. Also cancelled my local paper, which has become mostly wire service dreck from the NYT and the Washington Post and little local. Now I just read the WSJ. So I am cutting my monthly money drain down by about $42 a month, totalling the phone plan reduction and the paper. So in a way, that is a tax free return on 10k at a rate of 4.8%. I will be looking for more of those auto payment leakages. Would like to cut the cable but Comcast cleverly prices the internet/tv package at really the same rate as internet only.
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Re: What frugal thing did you do today?
We have the same Comcast deal but recently figured out we can use the HBO GO app on the tv or via chromecast (or phone) to watch HBO shows of interest on demand. I don't use it on windows computers since it still requires FLASH if you can believe it in this day and age.4nwestsaylng wrote: ↑Mon Feb 04, 2019 5:01 pm Would like to cut the cable but Comcast cleverly prices the internet/tv package at really the same rate as internet only.
Worth checking out. We actually don't use the tv portion from comcast (it sucks) - we use Windows Media Center and OTA antenna - but the internet was cheaper at bandwidth we wanted. Saved money by unsubscribing to NETFLIX for a few months until we finish the HBO stuff that we want to watch. (hopefully 6 months of Netflix savings).
Code: Select all
I can't and won't watch a commercial anymore.
Re: What frugal thing did you do today?
1. Learned how to replace watch batteries via a U-Tube video. Purchased Energizer watch batteries at 20% off. In the past I have paid $10 to have a battery replaced in one watch. Today I replaced batteries in four watches for under $4.00.
2. While browsing in a local department store, I noticed a few shelves of 90% off Christmas items. I had "eyed" two wreaths around Christmas time, but they were $100 each. Today I got them for 90% off. Also, the store computer system had a "glitch" according to the sales lady and so, customers received the employee discount of 20%. Thus, my two wreaths totaled $16.00.
3. I live in Florida. We had hurricane Irma not too long ago. All seemed A-OK in my neighborhood-no blue plastic on roofs, indicating problems. Well all of a sudden there is blue plastic all over and roofs are being replaced, at double the cost of roofs in this area five years ago. Kind of suspicious that all of a sudden everyone needs a new roof-mostly the same roofing company is doing the roofs. I need a repair but I don't think I need a new roof. Trying to figure out how to get an honest opinion has been difficult. So I called the realtor who I hired to sell my Mom's home a few years ago. After a long long conversation with her husband, he suggested that someone who does home inspections might be a FIRST PERSON to call for an unbiased opinion(as long as that person is not affiliated with a roofer) No savings yet but I am thinking this might be the smart way to go and perhaps get an honest opinion and perhaps save the cost of a new roof versus a repair. From what I have read roofing scams abound in Florida( or hurricane states )so I think I need to be wise about how I approach the roof problem.
2. While browsing in a local department store, I noticed a few shelves of 90% off Christmas items. I had "eyed" two wreaths around Christmas time, but they were $100 each. Today I got them for 90% off. Also, the store computer system had a "glitch" according to the sales lady and so, customers received the employee discount of 20%. Thus, my two wreaths totaled $16.00.
3. I live in Florida. We had hurricane Irma not too long ago. All seemed A-OK in my neighborhood-no blue plastic on roofs, indicating problems. Well all of a sudden there is blue plastic all over and roofs are being replaced, at double the cost of roofs in this area five years ago. Kind of suspicious that all of a sudden everyone needs a new roof-mostly the same roofing company is doing the roofs. I need a repair but I don't think I need a new roof. Trying to figure out how to get an honest opinion has been difficult. So I called the realtor who I hired to sell my Mom's home a few years ago. After a long long conversation with her husband, he suggested that someone who does home inspections might be a FIRST PERSON to call for an unbiased opinion(as long as that person is not affiliated with a roofer) No savings yet but I am thinking this might be the smart way to go and perhaps get an honest opinion and perhaps save the cost of a new roof versus a repair. From what I have read roofing scams abound in Florida( or hurricane states )so I think I need to be wise about how I approach the roof problem.
Re: What frugal thing did you do today?
Learning to cook South Indian food so I can fill up on protein-rich lentils instead of eating meat at every meal.
I just had leftover Uzbaki carrot rice pilaf (their national dish) with South Indian sambar over the top -- it's a hot potato, lentil, carrot, onion mixture with tons of deliciousness from the spices. No meat involved, and it was really good as well as filling!
I didn't price out how much it cost per serving, but lentils, potatoes, etc. are quite a bit cheaper than meat, and I buy spices in bulk at the local ethnic market, so I know I'm saving $$.
I just had leftover Uzbaki carrot rice pilaf (their national dish) with South Indian sambar over the top -- it's a hot potato, lentil, carrot, onion mixture with tons of deliciousness from the spices. No meat involved, and it was really good as well as filling!
I didn't price out how much it cost per serving, but lentils, potatoes, etc. are quite a bit cheaper than meat, and I buy spices in bulk at the local ethnic market, so I know I'm saving $$.
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Re: What frugal thing did you do today?
Went and filled up a few 5 gallon jugs of drinking water. One dollar for 5 gallons. Its a lot better than tap water and a lot cheaper than bottled water.
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Re: What frugal thing did you do today?
Home made foot insoles.
I needed leather and cork.
Thrift store. Found a woman's leather long coat. Enough leather forever. $10.
Home Depot. Roll of cork with sticky backing. $4.
I traced out my insoles on the leather and cork. Stuck them together. Walaha. Best insoles ever. Form fitted to my feet.
Kim
I needed leather and cork.
Thrift store. Found a woman's leather long coat. Enough leather forever. $10.
Home Depot. Roll of cork with sticky backing. $4.
I traced out my insoles on the leather and cork. Stuck them together. Walaha. Best insoles ever. Form fitted to my feet.
Kim
You know when you are rich. You can buy anything you want but want nothing.
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Re: What frugal thing did you do today?
We bought windshield wipers from Costco for $8.99, we returned the same pairs from O’reilley for $27 and $25.
The net savings was about $39 for a day.
The net savings was about $39 for a day.
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Re: What frugal thing did you do today?
That is a good one. I bought a tool for opening up the back of some watches that don't open with a screwdriver on eBay years ago. It has saved a lot of money. The Movado store wanted $50 to change a watch battery!
I also bought a tool to remove links from better watches for a few bucks. You can do it without the tool sometimes, but risk scratching things and the tool makes it much easier.
Re: What frugal thing did you do today?
My watches don’t use batteries, so my frugality exceeds yours.michaeljc70 wrote: ↑Tue Feb 05, 2019 6:31 pmThat is a good one. I bought a tool for opening up the back of some watches that don't open with a screwdriver on eBay years ago. It has saved a lot of money. The Movado store wanted $50 to change a watch battery!
I also bought a tool to remove links from better watches for a few bucks. You can do it without the tool sometimes, but risk scratching things and the tool makes it much easier.
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Re: What frugal thing did you do today?
That depends on the price of the watches.Nicolas wrote: ↑Tue Feb 05, 2019 9:16 pmMy watches don’t use batteries, so my frugality exceeds yours.michaeljc70 wrote: ↑Tue Feb 05, 2019 6:31 pmThat is a good one. I bought a tool for opening up the back of some watches that don't open with a screwdriver on eBay years ago. It has saved a lot of money. The Movado store wanted $50 to change a watch battery!
I also bought a tool to remove links from better watches for a few bucks. You can do it without the tool sometimes, but risk scratching things and the tool makes it much easier.
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Re: What frugal thing did you do today?
Did 4 x 4 minute rounds of 20:10 seconds HIIT exercise in my living room to Spotify music.
Saving 150 bucks a month by not going to gym!
Also, joined library while there colouring with my 4 year old and checked out my first book which I had on my amazon checkout, saved 8 bucks!
Saving 150 bucks a month by not going to gym!
Also, joined library while there colouring with my 4 year old and checked out my first book which I had on my amazon checkout, saved 8 bucks!
Re: What frugal thing did you do today?
Tracked a flight price on Google Flight for many weeks and booked it at what I thought the cheapest price -- $54.
20 hours later, the price dropped to $52. I cancelled the original flight and rebooked it -- $2 saved.
20 hours later, the price dropped to $52. I cancelled the original flight and rebooked it -- $2 saved.
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Re: What frugal thing did you do today?
Re: What frugal thing did you do today?
I bought some mini english cucumbers, cut them into quarters (length-wise) and stuck them in a jar of the brine that remained after we finished up some pickles. Pop back in the refrigerator, and I replenished my favorite pickle supply in 2 days.
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Re: What frugal thing did you do today?
You can use your library membership to access the library's online research tools from home. (Put your property tax dollars to work for you.)minimalistmarc wrote: ↑Wed Feb 06, 2019 7:28 am...
Also, joined library while there colouring with my 4 year old and checked out my first book which I had on my amazon checkout, saved 8 bucks!
Example. Many of Morningstar's subscription features are available for free when accessed through your library account. It's interesting to use M*'s premium Portfolio X-Ray tool to look at your total family investments.
Did I mention that you can do this from home?
Example. From home, you can also search the library's book (and media) catalog for the other books on your Amazon list. Put in a request for them. The library will send you an email when each is ready to be picked up/checked out. You will have one week to pick up each from the library's "holding" area.
You will want to stagger your requests over several weeks because you can't read all of them at once, and if there is a "hold" (for someone else) on the book when its due date arrives, then you will not be able to renew your checkout. So best to stagger your requests so you know you have time to finish each before its due date.
d.r.a., not dr.a. | I'm a novice investor; you are forewarned.
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Re: What frugal thing did you do today?
Went to an $8. Movie in Manhattan using my half price MetroCard. It was a crying baby matinee but no crying babies. Got a 5$ sushi roll at the Fairway next door on the way home to Brooklyn.
BarbBrooklyn |
"The enemy of a good plan is the dream of a perfect plan."
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Re: What frugal thing did you do today?
Made my own chicken noodle soup. Yum!
Re: What frugal thing did you do today?
Discussions of dishonest behavior or bypassing the law is totally unacceptable.
I removed a post and several replies which violate Xfinity's terms of service (using someone else's account for wi-fi access).
I removed a post and several replies which violate Xfinity's terms of service (using someone else's account for wi-fi access).
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Re: What frugal thing did you do today?
I do something similar by re-infusing (apple cider) vinegar into my favorite pepper sauce.
I like Big Tex (Tabasco) Pepper Sauce. It tastes great on Glory Mixed Greens (Southern style). But the bottle is small so the contents don't last long. What to do?
I now have a larger pickle jar that I filled with Tabasco peppers as I emptied each Big Tex bottle. An ice pick hole in the top takes care of dispensing the pepper sauce.
When the large jar is full of peppers (5x bottles of Big Tex peppers), I...
--Fill it full of apple cider vinegar. (Now I know how much liquid is needed.)
--Then pour the vinegar into a sauce pan and heat to boiling. (You will remember to turn on vent hood.)
--Then pour the hot vinegar into the large jar, allow it to cool, then put it into refrigerator to wait.
While waiting for the flavors to blend, I open a new bottle of Big Tex and use it up in a couple of weeks. When it's empty, I save it in the refrigerator and go back to using the large jar of pepper sauce.
After I've emptied and re-infused the large jar 5x, I have 5 empty bottles of Big Tex peppers waiting in the refrigerator. So I dump out the large jar peppers onto the compost pile, and refill it with the peppers from the saved 5 Big Tex bottles waiting in the refrigerator.
I feel sorry for rabbits that bite into the discarded Tabasco peppers.
d.r.a., not dr.a. | I'm a novice investor; you are forewarned.
Re: What frugal thing did you do today?
I've started taking my after workout shower at the gym instead of waiting until I get home. It saves me time because I don't take as long of a shower at the gym and it saves me money because I'm using less water at home! It's a win-win.
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Re: What frugal thing did you do today?
Haven't taken a shower at home in a long time. My corporate gym is 1/3 mile away, I'm there Monday-Saturday anyway, and I get employer-provided shampoo and bodywash.
Re: What frugal thing did you do today?
I just got a Prius last month and am now being a crazy MPG person, by constantly looking at my MPG meter and not using the heat during my morning commute.
Re: What frugal thing did you do today?
Commuted my first week to work with my bicycle. Yeah!
Re: What frugal thing did you do today?
Not today, but recently I told the eyeglasses place that I was NOT going the pay the amount billed to me because they screwed up my vision insurance calculation. And to my surprise, they sent me an updated bill with the amount to pay zeroed out and the missing money labelled as "Insurance write-off."
Re: What frugal thing did you do today?
Took the bus instead of uber.
Re: What frugal thing did you do today?
Recently purchased an instant pot and we have increased our use of dried lentils, beans etc. in recipes - no soaking required and a good way to fill up on cheap protein. Our heating bills have also reduced correspondingly due to all the extra "gas" in the house!!
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Re: What frugal thing did you do today?
I'm sorry that most of the replies I've read to your post are smart-alecky. Just let that stuff roll off. Kinda sad, though.
I've done these things, not today but since the new year:
Swore off Starbucks. No more $4 coffees for me. Over the course of the year that will save me well over a thousand dollars. Plus I'm liking my own coffee better now anyway.
Said no to expensive razors.
Cutting back on: cell phone bills, tax preparation services, cable TV, and most importantly, I'm eyeing the things around the place here that I'm not using enough. Going to sell it all.
I've done these things, not today but since the new year:
Swore off Starbucks. No more $4 coffees for me. Over the course of the year that will save me well over a thousand dollars. Plus I'm liking my own coffee better now anyway.
Said no to expensive razors.
Cutting back on: cell phone bills, tax preparation services, cable TV, and most importantly, I'm eyeing the things around the place here that I'm not using enough. Going to sell it all.
Re: What frugal thing did you do today?
Living most my life in Europe I never got why people run to Starbucks anyways. The coffee is usually awful and not enjoyable. I guess it must be convenience for most buyers.carol-brennan wrote: ↑Fri Feb 15, 2019 11:30 am
Swore off Starbucks. No more $4 coffees for me. Over the course of the year that will save me well over a thousand dollars. Plus I'm liking my own coffee better now anyway.
Re: What frugal thing did you do today?
I was getting ready to pay $180 for an annual subscription to Adobe Reader DC, when I I decided to try several free PDF readers. After several hours of testing, I found a free PDF reader that serves my needs.
Victoria
Victoria
Inventor of the Bogleheads Secret Handshake |
Winner of the 2015 Boglehead Contest. |
Every joke has a bit of a joke. ... The rest is the truth. (Marat F)
Re: What frugal thing did you do today?
............and the name of that PDF reader is?
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Re: What frugal thing did you do today?
Ice finally melted away today.
Rode my bike to work for the first time this year!
Saved 20 miles worth of gasoline and, my lungs feeling mighty happy - priceless.
Rode my bike to work for the first time this year!
Saved 20 miles worth of gasoline and, my lungs feeling mighty happy - priceless.
Re: What frugal thing did you do today?
PDF-XChange Editor, https://www.tracker-software.com/produc ... nge-editor . When you first launch it, the interface is very busy, but you can easily turn off menu options that you are not planning to use.
My primary requirement for a PDF application is to read books and papers, highlight sentences and paragraphs, add my own comments in the form of Sticky Notes, and then extract the highlighted text together with my own related notes. After extensive testing of PDF-XChange, including turning on and off various options, I now have it working perfectly for me.
Victoria
Inventor of the Bogleheads Secret Handshake |
Winner of the 2015 Boglehead Contest. |
Every joke has a bit of a joke. ... The rest is the truth. (Marat F)
Re: What frugal thing did you do today?
Took all the doors off in my house to save wear and tear on my hinges
- abuss368
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Re: What frugal thing did you do today?
Did not push the gas pedal down as hard!
John C. Bogle: “Simplicity is the master key to financial success."
Re: What frugal thing did you do today?
Awesome. Did the same this week. It feels so good to be out of the car and enjoy nature.Faith20879 wrote: ↑Fri Feb 15, 2019 11:52 am Ice finally melted away today.
Rode my bike to work for the first time this year!
Saved 20 miles worth of gasoline and, my lungs feeling mighty happy - priceless.
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Re: What frugal thing did you do today?
Used some skymiles to reduce my ticket price
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Re: What frugal thing did you do today?
Recently I have been using Uber instead of using a car service, a taxi service or an airport shuttle service. Uber is much, much cheaper than all of the rest. I am also not expected to give a tip when using Uber. Even more savings.Nectarineman wrote: ↑Sun Dec 24, 2017 11:05 am Since frugality seems to be a way of life, what did you do today that was frugal?
As for me, worked out at the gym, but shaved and took an extra long shower there to save on my utilities.
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Re: What frugal thing did you do today?
I am not renewing my Consumer Report's online subscription. Just like the paper magazine I didn't renew last year, I just don't find that much useful info for our current lifestyle in retirement.
We just purchased a new suite of kitchen appliances, so I won't be shopping them again for some time.
Others do find Consumer Reports useful, if I need to research something that I think CR's info would be helpful, I'll just visit the library.
I did renew my Bloomberg BusinessWeek magazine subscription for another year of delivery at my "one-time only" renewal rate of $2/year, for the 5th or 6th time now. I thought sure I wouldn't be able to renew again this year, but here I am.
I also get a yearly subscription to The New Yorker mag for $2/year. Same thing as my Bloomberg BusinessWeek mag, Every year I cancel the magazine renewal, and every year I get my cheap offer.
For Christmas last year I paid $12 total for 3,1 year subscriptions of The Food Network magazine. Wife and DDs were worth at least $4.
I guess the magazine companies want legit subscriptions for ad rates, even if they are basically giving away the publications.
Broken Man 1999
We just purchased a new suite of kitchen appliances, so I won't be shopping them again for some time.
Others do find Consumer Reports useful, if I need to research something that I think CR's info would be helpful, I'll just visit the library.
I did renew my Bloomberg BusinessWeek magazine subscription for another year of delivery at my "one-time only" renewal rate of $2/year, for the 5th or 6th time now. I thought sure I wouldn't be able to renew again this year, but here I am.
I also get a yearly subscription to The New Yorker mag for $2/year. Same thing as my Bloomberg BusinessWeek mag, Every year I cancel the magazine renewal, and every year I get my cheap offer.
For Christmas last year I paid $12 total for 3,1 year subscriptions of The Food Network magazine. Wife and DDs were worth at least $4.
I guess the magazine companies want legit subscriptions for ad rates, even if they are basically giving away the publications.
Broken Man 1999
“If I cannot drink Bourbon and smoke cigars in Heaven then I shall not go." - Mark Twain
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Re: What frugal thing did you do today?
Dimmed the lights in the house.
John C. Bogle: “Simplicity is the master key to financial success."
Re: What frugal thing did you do today?
Loaded up on my favorite chocolates (in Valentines wrapping) at 50% off!
At 20: I cared what everyone thought about me |
At 40: I didn't give a damn what anyone thought of me |
Now that I'm 60: I realize that no one was really thinking about me at all |
Winston Churchill (?)