TravellingTechOnFire wrote: ↑Mon Nov 11, 2024 1:44 pm
We make an effort to buy higher quality, longer lasting products. I've been throwing away expensive ~$120 running shoes once a year that I wear for work. Switched to sturdy, leather, nursing style shoes. I bought two pair to alternate($280), and expect to get 10 years from them, which gets me to retirement. No more disposable shoes.
We consistently eat out about once/week(Not frugal). However, we found a local, clean diner where the food was quite good. We walked. My meal was eggs, bacon, hashbrowns, toast, coffee, and wife had pancakes, eggs, bacon. $20.
Please share brand and model of shoes.
I bought two pairs of Dansko shoes:
1. Dansko Men's XP 2.0
2. Dansko Men's Karl Mule.
One is a full shoe, the other is open back. I run hot so I like to slip my feet out to cool off when I have the chance.
I've been wearing them for 1.5 weeks now, and would buy again. I'm not currently walking 10,000+ steps per day, but they were both comfortable from day one.
I could give many anecdotes from coworkers, but I told one that I hope for them to last ten years. She said no, no, your thinking is wrong. Said she had one pair that she wore every day for 8.5 years and still going. Said I'll get more than ten years from two pairs.
I bought two pairs of Dansko shoes:
1. Dansko Men's XP 2.0
2. Dansko Men's Karl Mule.
One is a full shoe, the other is open back. I run hot so I like to slip my feet out to cool off when I have the chance.
I've been wearing them for 1.5 weeks now, and would buy again. I'm not currently walking 10,000+ steps per day, but they were both comfortable from day one.
I could give many anecdotes from coworkers, but I told one that I hope for them to last ten years. She said no, no, your thinking is wrong. Said she had one pair that she wore every day for 8.5 years and still going. Said I'll get more than ten years from two pairs.
Brewed my own coffee for the early morning and to take to work with me, brought my own breakfast that I cooked to work with me (4 eggs scrambled with a bit of shredded cheddar and a piece of peanut butter & jelly toast). Also packed my lunch last night. Most Fridays I allow myself to buy my lunch as a reward for brown bagging it all week.
Sweet potatoes, sweet potatoes, sweet potatoes...that will be the main course till Christmas as the price continues to drop: $1, then $0.80, then $0.72 and now $0.69. Last year at Walmart, the price eventually dropped to $0.29. Sweet potato and Greek yogurt for breakfast, sweet potato and a bit of Swiss cheese for lunch and more sweet potatoes and perhaps fish or tofu for dinner.
"History is the memory of time, the life of the dead and the happiness of the living." Captain John Smith 1580-1631
Mr. Rumples wrote: ↑Thu Nov 14, 2024 12:35 pm
Sweet potatoes, sweet potatoes, sweet potatoes...that will be the main course till Christmas as the price continues to drop: $1, then $0.80, then $0.72 and now $0.69. Last year at Walmart, the price eventually dropped to $0.29. Sweet potato and Greek yogurt for breakfast, sweet potato and a bit of Swiss cheese for lunch and more sweet potatoes and perhaps fish or tofu for dinner.
How many ways do you cook those sweet potatoes.
Does my experience match yours that they don't last as long without going bad as do regular potatoes?
Above provided by: Vinny, who always says: "I only regret that I have but one lap to give to my cats." AND "I'm a more-is-more person."
Decided against going out to eat for lunch. Instead, I heated up left over chicken (boneless, skinless) peppers, onions, added seasoned broccoli. I was so full I skipped dinner.
YeahBuddy wrote: ↑Fri Nov 15, 2024 6:18 am
Decided against going out to eat for lunch. Instead, I heated up left over chicken (boneless, skinless) peppers, onions, added seasoned broccoli. I was so full I skipped dinner.
"A meal missed is a penny saved"
?????
Above provided by: Vinny, who always says: "I only regret that I have but one lap to give to my cats." AND "I'm a more-is-more person."
My car ran out of windshield washer fluid today. I made my own by mixing water with a tiny drop of dish soap. Cost savings is minimal but I saved myself an errand which makes me very happy.
jayjayc wrote: ↑Fri Nov 15, 2024 5:24 pm
My car ran out of windshield washer fluid today. I made my own by mixing water with a tiny drop of dish soap. Cost savings is minimal but I saved myself an errand which makes me very happy.
That is safe to use? How does it compare for effectiveness?
Above provided by: Vinny, who always says: "I only regret that I have but one lap to give to my cats." AND "I'm a more-is-more person."
jayjayc wrote: ↑Fri Nov 15, 2024 5:24 pm
My car ran out of windshield washer fluid today. I made my own by mixing water with a tiny drop of dish soap. Cost savings is minimal but I saved myself an errand which makes me very happy.
That is safe to use? How does it compare for effectiveness?
jayjayc wrote: ↑Fri Nov 15, 2024 5:24 pm
My car ran out of windshield washer fluid today. I made my own by mixing water with a tiny drop of dish soap. Cost savings is minimal but I saved myself an errand which makes me very happy.
That is safe to use? How does it compare for effectiveness?
In terms of wiping away dirt and dust, it works perfectly. As others have warned, it can freeze. It doesn't get below freezing where I live so water + soap is all I need.
That is safe to use? How does it compare for effectiveness?
In terms of wiping away dirt and dust, it works perfectly. As others have warned, it can freeze. It doesn't get below freezing where I live so water + soap is all I need.
Since I park outside year round here in Alaska, I use old antifreeze to wipe clean the headlights, blinkers, and mirrors. Seems to work well.
In terms of wiping away dirt and dust, it works perfectly. As others have warned, it can freeze. It doesn't get below freezing where I live so water + soap is all I need.
Since I park outside year round here in Alaska, I use old antifreeze to wipe clean the headlights, blinkers, and mirrors. Seems to work well.
What is old antifreeze? Something you bought a while ago? Or, some used antifreeze that was drained before adding new antifreeze?
Above provided by: Vinny, who always says: "I only regret that I have but one lap to give to my cats." AND "I'm a more-is-more person."
Since I park outside year round here in Alaska, I use old antifreeze to wipe clean the headlights, blinkers, and mirrors. Seems to work well.
What is old antifreeze? Something you bought a while ago? Or, some used antifreeze that was drained before adding new antifreeze?
Antifreeze removed when doing maintenance. I can take it to the central transfer station hazardous waste for free disposal or use it up slowly. I don’t have green anymore - currently just orange. I used to have to back flush a plugged heater core routinely a couple times each winter and the process produces a couple cups of used antifreeze removed each time.
I am rearranging my kitchen so that I can replace my stove/oven with a clothes washing machine (and Wolf toaster oven and 1-2 portable induction burners). Which left me with a stove to remove from my kitchen. Since I'm not purchasing a new one, I can't just have someone remove it when they deliver a replacement.
It wouldn't fit through the doorway leading to the shortest staircase out of my house. So I disassembled it by removing the sliding storage drawer, the door, and the top. It was then small enough to get through the doorway using a two wheeler, and light enough that I could just manage to get it down a short flight of stairs by myself.
It will be easier to load it into my Toyota Matrix to take to our city recycling. They'll charge me $5 for disposal. All in all, a frugal win.
WoostaGal wrote: ↑Tue Nov 19, 2024 1:24 pm
I am rearranging my kitchen so that I can replace my stove/oven with a clothes washing machine (and Wolf toaster oven and 1-2 portable induction burners). Which left me with a stove to remove from my kitchen. Since I'm not purchasing a new one, I can't just have someone remove it when they deliver a replacement.
It wouldn't fit through the doorway leading to the shortest staircase out of my house. So I disassembled it by removing the sliding storage drawer, the door, and the top. It was then small enough to get through the doorway using a two wheeler, and light enough that I could just manage to get it down a short flight of stairs by myself.
It will be easier to load it into my Toyota Matrix to take to our city recycling. They'll charge me $5 for disposal. All in all, a frugal win.
Totally! And you'll love your induction burner. I cooked for my son and myself for an entire year on just one induction burner, on top of my ancient electric glass-top stove. (Anything that makes cooking faster and cooler is a win in my book.)
WoostaGal wrote: ↑Tue Nov 19, 2024 1:24 pm
I am rearranging my kitchen so that I can replace my stove/oven with a clothes washing machine (and Wolf toaster oven and 1-2 portable induction burners). Which left me with a stove to remove from my kitchen. Since I'm not purchasing a new one, I can't just have someone remove it when they deliver a replacement.
It wouldn't fit through the doorway leading to the shortest staircase out of my house. So I disassembled it by removing the sliding storage drawer, the door, and the top. It was then small enough to get through the doorway using a two wheeler, and light enough that I could just manage to get it down a short flight of stairs by myself.
It will be easier to load it into my Toyota Matrix to take to our city recycling. They'll charge me $5 for disposal. All in all, a frugal win.
My electric stove has only plugged in for one day over many, many, many years.
I have bought a portable induction (maybe with only one burner) plus a full set of utensils to use on it. None have yet been used since I cook so little and any that I do is microwaved.
Why have I kept this stove?
1) It still works.
2) Don' have any form of replacement for its oven.
But good work on your end in what seems to be a successful kitchen rearrangement!
Above provided by: Vinny, who always says: "I only regret that I have but one lap to give to my cats." AND "I'm a more-is-more person."
It's Black Friday time and I have grabbed some great discounts.
NEWSPAPERS:
WSJ digital: $1 a week for a year
DAILY BREEZE digital [a local paper] $3 for a year
MEDIA:
PEACOCK $20 for a year
HULU 99¢ per month for a year
PARAMOUNT + and WALMART + $49 for a year
I'm pretty good about remembering to cancel these before the promotional rates ends.
vbdoug wrote: ↑Tue Nov 26, 2024 5:17 pm
It's Black Friday time and I have grabbed some great discounts.
NEWSPAPERS:
WSJ digital: $1 a week for a year
DAILY BREEZE digital [a local paper] $3 for a year
MEDIA:
PEACOCK $20 for a year
HULU 99¢ per month for a year
PARAMOUNT + and WALMART + $49 for a year
I'm pretty good about remembering to cancel these before the promotional rates ends.
When we get these "special but temporary rates", we put a reminder in our calendar, with "reminders for the reninder" at one week and at one day for the the date. So far, so good...
RM
This signature is a placebo. You are in the control group.
vbdoug wrote: ↑Tue Nov 26, 2024 5:17 pm
It's Black Friday time and I have grabbed some great discounts.
NEWSPAPERS:
WSJ digital: $1 a week for a year
DAILY BREEZE digital [a local paper] $3 for a year
MEDIA:
PEACOCK $20 for a year
HULU 99¢ per month for a year
PARAMOUNT + and WALMART + $49 for a year
I'm pretty good about remembering to cancel these before the promotional rates ends.
When we get these "special but temporary rates", we put a reminder in our calendar, with "reminders for the reninder" at one week and at one day for the the date. So far, so good...
RM
That is what I'd also go. Then obsess over it for the next week until I finally cancelled!
Above provided by: Vinny, who always says: "I only regret that I have but one lap to give to my cats." AND "I'm a more-is-more person."
I didn’t read all the above comments, ha ha.
I rewired my four foot fluorescent lights to LED. The ones in the garage, workshop and basement. It’s very easy even for me, not savvy, just looking to save money. Four foot LED bulbs are about $7.50 each at Home Depot. The bulbs are those without ballasts. That’s the key to making the rewire simple. You can do it yourself, use current 4 foot fixtures. Once you see how, each fixture takes about 30 minutes to rewire and install. Not only frugal but green. The wiring diagram is online just Google rewire for 4’ shop lights. Easy peasy.
DW has been on a frenzy of getting rid of stuff around house ahead for a Thanksgiving Dinner and a neighborhood holiday stroll in December. I had a couple pieces of consumer electronics squirreled away in a drawer that I had forgotten about. Was thinking of taking to recycle center, but thought I would take a stab at selling on eBay. Both sold within 24 hours, and I netted ~ $80. Not bad for some found money. As Holiday spending is occurring, the search will continue for other found items for eBay.
Stop thinking about what money can buy. Start thinking about what your money can earn. - Author JL Collins |
Dream as if you’ll live forever. Live as if you’ll die today. - Author James Dean
hvaclorax wrote: ↑Tue Nov 26, 2024 9:09 pm
I didn’t read all the above comments, ha ha.
I rewired my four foot fluorescent lights to LED. The ones in the garage, workshop and basement. It’s very easy even for me, not savvy, just looking to save money. Four foot LED bulbs are about $7.50 each at Home Depot. The bulbs are those without ballasts. That’s the key to making the rewire simple. You can do it yourself, use current 4 foot fixtures. Once you see how, each fixture takes about 30 minutes to rewire and install. Not only frugal but green. The wiring diagram is online just Google rewire for 4’ shop lights. Easy peasy.
+1. The rewiring instructions are included on/in (I forget which) the non-ballast LED tube box. I rewired one* because its ballast went bad and I didn't want to buy a new ballast.
Lesson learned: non-ballast 4' LED tubes are brighter than those that work with an existing ballast; I'd tried a set of ballasted-LED tubes to see how they worked.
* I still have a few 4' florescent tubes left in a case I bought on sale ~20yrs ago, but when it's empty I'll replace/rewire the remaining fixtures.
d.r.a., not dr.a. | I'm a novice investor; you are forewarned. | AA: 50/50; taxable: 3fund w/munis; Roth: recommended stock funds for expected higher growth.
Collected all recyclable cans/bottles at $0.05 per (instead of putting them out in the recyclable pickup) and gave the proceeds to the "bottle" store clerk as a tip here in New York. Happy Thanksgiving.
The ballast sucks up electricity but looses it as heat. So energy wise I’d stick with the non-ballast tubes. BTW the lifetime on the LED is 40,000 to 50,000 hours. 5.5 years if left on continuously. I’ll be pushing up dasies.
I thought this thread had been replaced by the "how can I spend more money" threads, or the "what's the most expensive watch you own" threads.
Just kidding, love these ideas. For me, I brought a healthy home-cooked meal for my lunch today and I'm picking delicious homegrown oranges for snacks.
Deontic wrote: ↑Wed Nov 27, 2024 2:34 pm
Collected all recyclable cans/bottles at $0.05 per (instead of putting them out in the recyclable pickup) and gave the proceeds to the "bottle" store clerk as a tip here in New York. Happy Thanksgiving.
$5.00 for five pounds of ground beef in a tube. It is best by two days from now, so 2/3 went in the freezer.
$1.72 for six big beautiful mushrooms, that went along with the not frozen ground beef and some onions.
Like good comrades to the utmost of their strength, we shall go on to the end. -- Winston Churchill
I cancelled my order for a MacBook Pro with M4 Pro chip, which was sitting at BestBuy waiting to be picked up.
I have a 2015 MBP that has stopped getting macOS updates, and recently Microsoft 365 has dropped support for its version as well, so it was time. With the M4 just being released and getting great reviews, especially over the M3 release not quite a year ago, I did my shopping and selected a stock config that was also on sale at BestBuy for $300 off.
But then I remembered I had an abandoned M1 MBP that I haven't been able to use because it is activation locked. I took it out of storage to see if there was any way I could use it as a trade-in, and lo, the activation lock had been removed at some point, so I could get $400 trade-in value for it!
I was struggling though and kept going back and forth. What finally tipped the scales was putting it in the same context is being granted company stock - "if I wouldn't have bought it, I should sell it immediately". If I'd been using this M1 MBP all along, I wouldn't have needed to shop for a new MBP, because it is still supported by macOS and Microsoft 365, and it handles all of my workloads with ease (frankly, better than my brand new Windows work laptop, lol).
So I cancelled the order, saved around $2k, and have been stressing less than when it was just waiting to be picked up.
SwiftKey wrote: ↑Fri Nov 29, 2024 7:44 pm
I cancelled my order for a MacBook Pro with M4 Pro chip, which was sitting at BestBuy waiting to be picked up.
I have a 2015 MBP that has stopped getting macOS updates, and recently Microsoft 365 has dropped support for its version as well, so it was time. With the M4 just being released and getting great reviews, especially over the M3 release not quite a year ago, I did my shopping and selected a stock config that was also on sale at BestBuy for $300 off.
But then I remembered I had an abandoned M1 MBP that I haven't been able to use because it is activation locked. I took it out of storage to see if there was any way I could use it as a trade-in, and lo, the activation lock had been removed at some point, so I could get $400 trade-in value for it!
I was struggling though and kept going back and forth. What finally tipped the scales was putting it in the same context is being granted company stock - "if I wouldn't have bought it, I should sell it immediately". If I'd been using this M1 MBP all along, I wouldn't have needed to shop for a new MBP, because it is still supported by macOS and Microsoft 365, and it handles all of my workloads with ease (frankly, better than my brand new Windows work laptop, lol).
So I cancelled the order, saved around $2k, and have been stressing less than when it was just waiting to be picked up.
Great example of changing the opinion / decision in the light of new information! In your case the new information was coming to new realizations regarding the facts.
Above provided by: Vinny, who always says: "I only regret that I have but one lap to give to my cats." AND "I'm a more-is-more person."
Hot Sauce wrote: ↑Sun Oct 13, 2024 8:45 pm
I received snarky disrespectful treatment from two people and decided to “retaliate” by lavishing kindness to everyone I subsequently came across today. It cost $0, and made a positive difference in multiple people’s lives. ROI = infinity!
I love this!
Although not your intentions, it’s benefiting yourself too! Could save you from needing therapy or even prevent physical problems from stress! Well done.
Mr. Rumples wrote: ↑Sat Nov 30, 2024 10:07 am
Bought cranberries at Walmart for 75 cents a bag. They freeze well and then defrosted with yogurt for a healthy treat.
Curious about the ingredients in that bag aside from the cranberries? Sugar added?
I'd bought cranberries in anticipation that they'd taste great. But remember being somewhat disappointed that they were somewhat bitter. That led me to assuming that the ones I'd eaten in the past been sweetened in some way?
Above provided by: Vinny, who always says: "I only regret that I have but one lap to give to my cats." AND "I'm a more-is-more person."
I put a few items that I need in my Amazon cart yesterday. But, unlike every other time, it would not let me check out unless I enrolled in prime. I tried a few times and then decided to buy another day. I bet they got so many more prime customers yesterday.
Mr. Rumples wrote: ↑Sat Nov 30, 2024 10:07 am
Bought cranberries at Walmart for 75 cents a bag. They freeze well and then defrosted with yogurt for a healthy treat.
Curious about the ingredients in that bag aside from the cranberries? Sugar added?
I'd bought cranberries in anticipation that they'd taste great. But remember being somewhat disappointed that they were somewhat bitter. That led me to assuming that the ones I'd eaten in the past been sweetened in some way?
Nope, just defrosted and plain Greek yogurt. Very tart, but I suppose one could add sugar and a very tiny pinch of salt. Or they do well in smoothies. (A pinch of salt often helps with bitterness.)
"History is the memory of time, the life of the dead and the happiness of the living." Captain John Smith 1580-1631
Mr. Rumples wrote: ↑Sat Nov 30, 2024 10:07 am
Bought cranberries at Walmart for 75 cents a bag. They freeze well and then defrosted with yogurt for a healthy treat.
Curious about the ingredients in that bag aside from the cranberries? Sugar added?
I'd bought cranberries in anticipation that they'd taste great. But remember being somewhat disappointed that they were somewhat bitter. That led me to assuming that the ones I'd eaten in the past been sweetened in some way?
The bagged cranberries we get are the "half the sugar" type. Sometimes it's hard to find them, and only the "regular" "Soaked In Lots Of Extra Sugar"TM is available.
And they still taste plenty sweet, although they still do have that cranberry tartness.
I wish they made something with less than half the sugar, preferably *much* less than half.
There is SO much sugar added to food these days, that even "half" is more than is necessary.
RM
This signature is a placebo. You are in the control group.
Curious about the ingredients in that bag aside from the cranberries? Sugar added?
I'd bought cranberries in anticipation that they'd taste great. But remember being somewhat disappointed that they were somewhat bitter. That led me to assuming that the ones I'd eaten in the past been sweetened in some way?
Nope, just defrosted and plain Greek yogurt. Very tart, but I suppose one could add sugar and a very tiny pinch of salt. Or they do well in smoothies. (A pinch of salt often helps with bitterness.)
Thanks for that quick response which is absolutely full of new information for me. I will again try them. But not add sugar. Some other sweetener, though. Or, as part of a smoothie. However, they do seem to have such a sharp flavor it seems that they might be prominent in any smoothie?
Above provided by: Vinny, who always says: "I only regret that I have but one lap to give to my cats." AND "I'm a more-is-more person."
valleyrock wrote: ↑Sat Nov 30, 2024 11:43 am
I decided not to buy an iPad because I already have a tablet that works for what I need.
That was how I resolved not spending $200 for that 64GB 9th generation iPad.
Exactly, precisely what I did!
I was looking for something lighter, of all things. Turns out this 9th gen iPad weighs about a pound,
while my old Lenovo Tab 8, second generation weighs in at about half that, and works just fine!
This!
