What small things did you do TODAY to save money?

[crocheted_stache]

Made up a big pot of chili, with dried beans in the Instant Pot and various other foods from the fridge and pantry. That's dinner for tonight and leftovers for a few days for lunches. Did a light bit of housecleaning with dish soap and reusable cleaning cloths, and I ran one load of laundry, which is air drying.

The furnace has been turned off the past few days, but March may bring some more cool nights.

[41_swish]

Made up a big pot of chili, with dried beans in the Instant Pot and various other foods from the fridge and pantry. That's dinner for tonight and leftovers for a few days for lunches. Did a light bit of housecleaning with dish soap and reusable cleaning cloths, and I ran one load of laundry, which is air drying.

The furnace has been turned off the past few days, but March may bring some more cool nights.

Chili is such a good bulk meal to make. I can make a batch of it and eat it all week. I will usually mix in some sour cream and cheese when I reheat it

[PMG]

How did you know I had chili on the menu to make today?

[41_swish]

Because it's ole reliable. It is pretty easy to make and very tasty

[midweststache]

HA! Y'all, I cannot make this up.

Chili dogs on the menu tonight, using leftover chili from this weekend. :)

[Frugal Lizard]

I found some extra ceramic tiles and glued them to a piece of wood from the stockpile and made a non-combustible extension for our new wood insert. Hopefully this little four-inch strip of ceramic will satisfy the requirements for the W.E.T.T. certificate.

The Canadian standard is 18 inches. Our hearth is only 16. The American standard is 16. Our house is in Canada. Hence the little hearth extension for the cost of joint filler and glue.

[La Bibliotecaria Feroz]

Not quite today but this weekend- my husband had overplanned the weekend and was too tired to make "snacky dinner" for the Oscars. He suggested ordering something. I said, how about you let the adolescents make the pigs in blankets* and I'll make the cauliflower? (There were also cheese and crackers and some sausages that I just blackened in the skillet.)

*Literally this just involves cutting crescent rolls into smaller triangles and wrapping them around the pigs. Well within their abilities.

Added bonus: If we had ordered a pizza or something, we would still have had to eat the snacky food another day. This lets us have healthier food instead.

[41_swish]

I went to the dentist, but the twist was it was a med school dentist. I knew someone who needed a patient, and I went as their guinea pig.

It was slower than normal, but $25 for a cleaning and exam with no Xrays.

[Freedomin5]

Made enough food for lunch for the next couple days. Made a quick run to Decathlon to shop their end-of-season sale. Bought a winter coat for $50 (which would've cost well over $150 in Canada), a windbreaker for $30, and hiking pants for $15. Going to ship it all to Canada using my company's shipping allowance.

[MaybeBabyMustache]

-Made a big batch of chicken stir fry, to use up a bunch of veggies that had to go before they went bad
-Menu planned, to ensure we don't waste food & eat what we have

[Serendip]

Didn't stop at the store to 'pick up a few things' and instead will make-do with leftover dinner and things I can rummage out of the fridge.

[41_swish]

I rode my bike to the grocery store and to the park to play tennis!

[Dicey]

Uh, never left the house. Didn't order anything on line either.

[crocheted_stache]

I purchased my next bike tire. I'm planning to keep riding on the old one for now. It's holding air, and holding up, other than a gouge in one spot, which I'll monitor.

The bike shop had exactly one in stock in my bike's apparently unusual size. Whether because they weren't selling that size much or because it's a non-standard color, it was marked down to $15, which is a pretty good deal. I can ride on one funny looking tire for a few years.

[midweststache]

We needed to contribute to a classroom basket for KIDDO2's school, so we found some popcorn kernels we were gifted but will never cook up in the pantry and used a GC to pick out some fancy popcorn toppings. We did end up paying for one of those "pop in the microwave" makers, but overall we were able to contribute for pretty cheaply. (We're very happy with this school but the amount of 'additional contributions' like this that are expected throughout the year is... a lot. So excited to finally have both in public schools next year!)

I feel kinda crappy, so I'm WFH today which means I'll save on transit costs and my once-a-week lunch out. I will go in later this week, but it will be after a big cook night so I'm planning on taking leftovers with me.

[nessness]

The local international market had 27 pounds of apples for $9, so naturally I bought a box. I'm making a big batch of crock pot applesauce today, and plan to make apple butter later this week. I might make some more applesauce to can too but I need to get some bottled lemon juice to safely water bath can it.

[GuitarStv]

The local international market had 27 pounds of apples for $9, so naturally I bought a box. I'm making a big batch of crock pot applesauce today, and plan to make apple butter later this week. I might make some more applesauce to can too but I need to get some bottled lemon juice to safely water bath can it.

Apple crumble every night for a month!

[nessness]

The local international market had 27 pounds of apples for $9, so naturally I bought a box. I'm making a big batch of crock pot applesauce today, and plan to make apple butter later this week. I might make some more applesauce to can too but I need to get some bottled lemon juice to safely water bath can it.

Apple crumble every night for a month!

My kids would be thrilled!

I underestimated how much 27 pounds of apples is when I bought them. It is 50 large apples. That is a LOT of apples. I think I'll give a few to every friend I see over the next couple weeks.

[ChpBstrd]

The local international market had 27 pounds of apples for $9, so naturally I bought a box. I'm making a big batch of crock pot applesauce today, and plan to make apple butter later this week. I might make some more applesauce to can too but I need to get some bottled lemon juice to safely water bath can it.

Apple crumble every night for a month!

My kids would be thrilled!
I underestimated how much 27 pounds of apples is when I bought them. It is 50 large apples. That is a LOT of apples. I think I'll give a few to every friend I see over the next couple weeks.

Some people get gassy when they eat a lot of apples. Looking forward to updates on the MPP thread.

[GuitarStv]

The local international market had 27 pounds of apples for $9, so naturally I bought a box. I'm making a big batch of crock pot applesauce today, and plan to make apple butter later this week. I might make some more applesauce to can too but I need to get some bottled lemon juice to safely water bath can it.

Apple crumble every night for a month!

My kids would be thrilled!
I underestimated how much 27 pounds of apples is when I bought them. It is 50 large apples. That is a LOT of apples. I think I'll give a few to every friend I see over the next couple weeks.

Some people get gassy when they eat a lot of apples. Looking forward to updates on the MPP thread.

My dad used to bring me a bushel of apples (~45lbs) from his farm every fall when I was university.  For some reason, the idea of trading them to other people never clicked in my brain and I ate them all.

[41_swish]

I know it's small, kind of the point, but I rode my bike to work, the grocery store, and gym.

[crocheted_stache]

I know it's small, kind of the point, but I rode my bike to work, the grocery store, and gym.

A photo has made the rounds poking fun at people using the escalators up to a gym entrance. You can find variations in an image search. I think it's at least as absurd to drive to use a stationary bicycle, but it's so commonplace that nobody ever questions the huge parking lot around the gym.

Today I did my laundry so it would have time to dry hanging up and won't need to be done during the rain that's predicted later this week. Sheets and towels get a head start in the tumble dryer during the cooler season.

[fuzzy math]

-I spent 20 mins getting my bald tires their pro rated warranty at the tire place. $45 back on a new set.
- Did 2 mystery shops (son did a 3rd). Got some food, some gas, a shirt and some pay for the shops.
- Picked up a penny and a dime off the ground.
- Got some bonuses on my receipt cash back apps.
- Have kept the house at 68 degrees for over a week, even though it feels a lot colder these past couple days.

[Freedomin5]

Booked 6 attraction tickets for DD and her friends for her bday. Used a coupon on an app to get one free admission ticket, then used promotions to get 50% off all the other tickets. Saved $150.

[Chaplin]

We've wanted to add a greenhouse to our vegetable gardening efforts for a while. I was sure there must be some older gardener no longer using their greenhouse and willing to let us move it rather than us needing to buy or build a new one while an old one goes to the landfill when a property is sold, but we hadn't found such a connection yet.

One day after mentioning this idea to a neighbor he had us hooked up with someone in exactly that situation. Now we just have to do the the work to move it. Still, saving money on the greenhouse and then later on the increased veggie production is a big win. Even without the greenhouse we had a huge crop last year so hopefully we can push further into the winter with frozen and canned produce and avoid buying out-of-season or from the US.

[ChpBstrd]

Plus: Rode the mountain bike to and from work instead of taking the car. Great cardio workout.

Minus: Discovered my road bike had a flat, so I had to use the mountain bike. So I have a flat to fix plus the urge to own more bikes just in case I ever go to the shed and find two flats at the same time.

[41_swish]

Plus: Rode the mountain bike to and from work instead of taking the car. Great cardio workout.

Minus: Discovered my road bike had a flat, so I had to use the mountain bike. So I have a flat to fix plus the urge to own more bikes just in case I ever go to the shed and find two flats at the same time.

I always find that riding my bike to work is a very pleasant start to the day. My car commute is fine, but riding my bike when it is cool in the morning is a nice start to the day.

[GuitarStv]

Plus: Rode the mountain bike to and from work instead of taking the car. Great cardio workout.

Minus: Discovered my road bike had a flat, so I had to use the mountain bike. So I have a flat to fix plus the urge to own more bikes just in case I ever go to the shed and find two flats at the same time.

I always find that riding my bike to work is a very pleasant start to the day. My car commute is fine, but riding my bike when it is cool in the morning is a nice start to the day.

Me too.  The screaming, the honking, the adrenaline rush of near death experiences . . . who needs to waste money on coffee when you can bike in Toronto?

[RetiredAt63]

Are you even a real Canadian, buddy, eh?

Citizenship has been revoked for less.    ;-)

[partgypsy]

Needed to scan images that are just a tad too big for my scanner..fed ex was going to charge approximately 120 ($2 per scan!) Asked around my community and someone came through with a solution.
While not free, instead of paying a workman, me and kids tackled a yard job. I still paid them but it was less money and we all got some exercise (pulling up 1/3 brick patio, redoing the base to raise it, re-laying it.

[41_swish]

Plus: Rode the mountain bike to and from work instead of taking the car. Great cardio workout.

Minus: Discovered my road bike had a flat, so I had to use the mountain bike. So I have a flat to fix plus the urge to own more bikes just in case I ever go to the shed and find two flats at the same time.

I always find that riding my bike to work is a very pleasant start to the day. My car commute is fine, but riding my bike when it is cool in the morning is a nice start to the day.

Me too.  The screaming, the honking, the adrenaline rush of near death experiences . . . who needs to waste money on coffee when you can bike in Toronto?

It makes me feel something, you know?

[nessness]

Refillled my jar of cumin with cumin purchased in bulk from Winco. It only cost 51 cents - much cheaper than it would have been to buy a new jar.

[41_swish]

It always amazes me how much cheaper bulk spices are. I wish I lived near a Winco, because they have an amazing bulk section.

[Freedomin5]

Instead of ordering dinner in, I made avocado toast using ingredients we already had on hand.

[crocheted_stache]

It always amazes me how much cheaper bulk spices are. I wish I lived near a Winco, because they have an amazing bulk section.

In the absence of a true bulk section, try any ethnic market if you have one. In general, look for spices sold in bags or larger containers (Costco, restaurant suppliers) rather than little bottles/jars. If you love the little jars, get them the first time and refill from bags.

I've also done the thing before where the 1/2 oz thing of spice cost $7 while a pound of the same spice costs $15 or $17. I needed a quantity somewhere in between, so I bought the pound and gave away a few little jars (saved from whatever else) to other Buy Nothing members. It still saves money, assuming I needed any amount more than 1/2 oz, and I figure maybe it puts me first in line when someone has surplus garden produce or some other item I might like.

[41_swish]

Instead of ordering dinner in, I made avocado toast using ingredients we already had on hand.

I thought avocado toast was like the entire reason millennials were doomed, haha just kidding

[Freedomin5]

Instead of ordering dinner in, I made avocado toast using ingredients we already had on hand.

I thought avocado toast was like the entire reason millennials were doomed, haha just kidding

I should start a new trend. How to FIRE on avocado toast. Seriously, avocado toast costs me like, $1 to make.

[MaybeBabyMustache]

We are staying at a hotel that has a casino, so I always check our rewards app for any freebies that appear. Sure enough, had two dining credits between the accounts. Used one to pick up takeout for the four teens we have with us. DH & I used the second one for ourselves.

Brought lots of snacks & drinks for the room as well, because feeding a bunch of teen skiers is no joke.

[Frugal Lizard]

Yesterday I made a double batch of gluten free granola. And turned 2L of milk into yogurt in the instant pot.

The yogurt is a huge money saver now that the large tubs of Greek yogurt are $8.00 bucks with probiotics. Gluten free granola? Don't know what it would cost because I have never found it in a store. It is not cheap (gluten free rolled oats, sliced almonds, pepitas, hemp seed, shredded coconut, dried fruit) but it is satisfying with some plain Greek yogurt.

[crocheted_stache]

Instead of ordering dinner in, I made avocado toast using ingredients we already had on hand.

I thought avocado toast was like the entire reason millennials were doomed, haha just kidding

I should start a new trend. How to FIRE on avocado toast. Seriously, avocado toast costs me like, $1 to make.

The problem, as ever, is paying whatever it costs in some snooty cafe or restaurant. Also, the older generation that dispensed that advice came of age in a different economy and ratio of available income to housing price.

I don't often put avocado on toast, but I bet I could make some of the best and most economical avocado toast around. I get avocados mostly from neighbors' trees. One hangs over our fence, and a Buy Nothing neighbor has an avocado tree that's loaded again this year. DH and I bake bread from scratch. We didn't get around to baking last weekend, so I guess today's the day.

[41_swish]

I think the whole avacado toast thing was just something stupid for boomers to latch on to. Sorry that a home was only 2.5X your salary back then and now its 5X my salary... I guess I will enjoy my breakfast in the meantime

[ChpBstrd]

Instead of ordering dinner in, I made avocado toast using ingredients we already had on hand.

I thought avocado toast was like the entire reason millennials were doomed, haha just kidding

I should start a new trend. How to FIRE on avocado toast. Seriously, avocado toast costs me like, $1 to make.

The problem, as ever, is paying whatever it costs in some snooty cafe or restaurant. Also, the older generation that dispensed that advice came of age in a different economy and ratio of available income to housing price.

I don't often put avocado on toast, but I bet I could make some of the best and most economical avocado toast around. I get avocados mostly from neighbors' trees. One hangs over our fence, and a Buy Nothing neighbor has an avocado tree that's loaded again this year. DH and I bake bread from scratch. We didn't get around to baking last weekend, so I guess today's the day.

Apparently there are now cold-hardy avocado trees that can allegedly withstand temperatures down to 20F. Anyone have experience trying to grow these? https://www.plantingtree.com/products/cold-hardy-avocado-tree

[sonofsven]

More a time than a money saver:
A screw fell out of my glasses when I was running my boat and landed on the deck; luckily it didn't fall overboard!
The screw was lost; I figured my optometrist would probably fix it for free, but I went through my old glasses and found a screw that fits.
Yes, I have hoarder genes.