Frugal Friday

It was a busy week, but we had some wins along the way. 

Saving on things we buy

• Used a $1 expiring Rite Aid reward, to buy the boys deodorant. They need... a lot of it!
• Used a coupon code & a reward to pick up a few Christmas gifts for the boys. The gifts are actually from my parents, but saving money is a win for everyone. 

Earning money

• Sold the last of M's jackets on eBay. As expected, it sold within a week of listing it. I only wish everything I listed sold as well. 
• Cashed out $20.75 via iBotta. We rarely buy anything that matches up with offers, so it's nice to get a bit out, even though it takes time.
• Sold a bunch of travel gift cards. Raise has been a hassle lately, but it's nice to have them gone, and the money back into the travel budget. This airline dropped a lot of routes during COVID, so the gift cards were near impossible for us to use. 
• Received a rebate from our mortgage company. They were auditing some paperwork, and realized they overcharged us for our appraisal. We bought the house in 2017, so I have no idea why this just popped. Anyway, received a check for just under $500. Unexpected money is always a fun surprise. 

Avoiding spending

• I've been trying hard to avoid random purchases. I'm doing pretty well. I did take the boys grocery shopping, and that played out as expected. ;-) 
• I didn't have any canned tomatoes (the recipe called for one with diced chiles), so I diced a few large tomatoes from the garden & added a jalapeno from the yard. It was a nice freebie replacement, although the tomatoes are really at the end of the season. 

Eating what we have

• Our meals have been the opposite of glamorous this week, but we've all been fed, and we've gotten a lot out of the freezer.
• Used all of the naan bread, in various dinners.
• Ate random leftovers for lunch, numerous times this week. I'm usually pretty hungry after a workout, so it's all good & as long as there is protein and some sort of produce with it, it all works out.  
• We managed to clean out the fridge by Friday night, which is rare! 
• Defrosted a small container of soup for an on the go lunch.
• Finished off the last of two packages of tortillas (one regular, one Keto friendly). We use shells regularly, but one of these was tucked in the back of the fridge & isn't a brand we buy. I think my parents bought them when they were here. I'm glad we discovered them before they went bad. 
• Finished off the last of a bag of pizza rolls, for a weekend teen boy lunch. 
• While doing a bit of freezer organization, discovered a few of the "eggwich" breakfast sandwiches in the freezer, and set one out for an easy breakfast.
• Defrosted an accidental package of chicken (it was attached to two packages I'd planned to defrost) & turned it into soup. The soup had the bonus points of using up the last of carrots, celery lingering in the fridge, potatoes we need to use, & two containers of chicken broth from the freezer. Wins!

For others:

• I worked a four hour shift at a food pantry, and then matched my time with work (earning them an in kind cash match).
• I also helped the food bank supervisor set up a cell phone for the volunteers
• Gave away lots of pomegranate & herbs to friends & neighbors
• Gave away a gift card to the local soccer store. I've had it in my purse for at least two years, and just never go there. I think it has around $20, and a neighbor on BN is buying a Christmas gift from the same shop. Out of my wallet, into the hands of a neighbor who will use it. Win/win. 
• Purchased an Amazon wish list via a friend, to help out a neighborhood family who is struggling right now. The wish list was a mix of basics (deodorant, toothpaste, soap, etc) & some clothing items. 
• Donated to the high school soccer team for Nick, and submitted a request for a match, thus doubling my donation.
• Gave away a bunch of other items (including in demand ski pants) on BN. 

What about you? Any wins to share?