From free sandwich makers to picnics, I’ve had a pretty frugal week – with one notable exception. Read on to learn more!
1. I received a free replacement for my breakfast sandwich maker.
I’ve been a major fan of the breakfast sandwich maker from Hamilton Beach for YEARS now – my parents got theirs first and I quickly followed suit and have never been disappointed. My beloved longtime sandwich maker finally began to show its age awhile back – the nonstick coating began to peel off, which is both unsightly and unhealthy – and so I ordered a new one. It arrived and all seemed well – until I realized the timer wasn’t working properly, either leaving my sandwiches to scald or refusing to cook them at all. I emailed Hamilton Beach and they sent me a new one right away! I shall save the cooking rings from the old one and have two backups for easy cleanup. I’m a very satisfied customer!
2. We feasted on a homemade picnic at this weekend’s outdoor concert.
In the spring, we bought tickets to see Beck play with the National Symphony Orchestra at Wolf Trap here in Virginia, and the date finally arrived! While we could have either purchased a bunch of food for a picnic or gone out to a nearby-ish restaurant before the show, LeeLee and I did what we always do: Enjoyed a homemade picnic with all the fixings, including tofu-salad sandwiches (in an egg-salad style), fruit salad, hummus and more. We did splurge on beautifully crafted “toaster pastries” from our local bakery at the farmer’s market, but that was really just a matter of stimulating the local economy, no?
3. The Leftover Revolution continues.
It may not be sexy, but it’s effective: We’re still making excellent use of our leftovers, and our grocery savings are showing the results! Just this week so far we’ve enjoyed Monday-night pasta left over from Friday night’s Olympics opening ceremonies festivities; several servings of peach caflouti also left over from Friday night; fruit salad from Saturday, integrated into weekday lunches; onion rings and yellow squash from Sunday night’s cookout, also integrated into lunches; and more!
4. I’ve been more judicious about our laundry schedule.
On the heels of an awesomely low water bill, I have decided I want to push the envelope even further! As a result, I’m tightening up my laundry schedule, trying to stretch the days between washings while I’m more strategic about what I wear and when. Can I get the bill lower by another tick on the bar chart? Time will tell!
5. And, finally, a frugal fail: I paid out of pocket for my oil change. (Boo.)
I was due for an oil change – past due, in fact – this week, and made an appointment at the dealership (as my car is still under warranty) to have it taken care of. First, reader, I thought that this oil change was covered under my limited warranty, as the last one was, but I was sorely mistaken on that front. And then I realized too late that I could have used my FordPass points balance to pay for the oil change – and did not! The checkout clerk did ask if I wanted to use them, but I’ve been saving them for some rubber floor mats and so I declined. Only after I left did I realize that I have enough points for both the floor mats and the oil change. I feel foolish about it, but I won’t make that mistake again!
What frugal wins and fails have you seen this week? Let us know in the comments!
:)