From holiday parties to erroneous medical bills, our frugality has run the gamut here this week! Here’s what’s been cooking (hint: It’s leftovers).
1. Holiday parties = free dinners!
This has been a week of holiday parties, and with that comes free food. LeeLee and I have munched our way through the week at one party after another, and as a result our grocery bill has been so very small indeed as the days have ticked by. Of course, all this socializing has made us completely exhausted, but again I state: Free food! I’ll never be too old to enjoy free food.
2. I refuted a miscoded medical bill.
So there I was at lunch the other day with my dear friend RayRay (who also happens to be a faithful reader of this blog!) when I began to lament the passel of medical bills that had just arrived through my mail slot, a second go-round of billing after LeeLee’s recent knee surgery. “I’ve already PAID all these people!” I exclaimed in despair. “What else do they want?” RayRay replied that I needed to go through each bill with a fine-toothed comb, which is something that I know but don’t always remember to do. Lo and behold, as I went through our latest bill from the anesthesiologist I realized we were being charged for a “Cardiovascular procedure: Insertion of catheters to evaluate and treat abnormal heart rhythm.” As the heart is nowhere near the knee, I knew at once this was incorrect and called the billing company to inform them. They agreed and said this was probably a miscoded bill and to “disregard,” which keeps $106 in my pocket. But my question is – would they have disregarded my $106 check had I mailed it in? I think not. Anyway. It’s all done now and I am grateful to RayRay for the most timely reminder!
3. I returned an Amazon order on time.
Recently I bought a canvas runner with the thinking I would need to replace my original runner after our 12-day-long construction work in the back yard was done (the crew had been using it to walk through our house to get in and out of the yard), but it turns out the original runner wasn’t nearly as damaged and dirtied as I worried it might be. Thus, the replacement wasn’t necessary, so off it went to the UPS Store for a free return.
4. The Leftover Revolution continues!
When we haven’t been at holiday parties, LeeLee and I have been enjoying our plentiful leftovers. From leftover chik’n and veggie pasta to leftover taco soup to leftover tofu-scramble tacos, we’ve not gone hungry and not gotten bored! The Leftover Revolution is real, friends, and it’s something we can count on in this transitory life.
5. LeeLee was given a new Starbucks card – which went straight into the family account.
LeeLee was recently a guest speaker at a local college, and as a thank-you the instructor sent him a $20 Starbucks gift card, which was certainly not necessary but completely appreciated! When we get these cards, we add them to my Starbucks account – and then we keep them in reserve for when we travel together and need a little pick-me-up. It’s always more fun to get fancy coffee drinks for free!
What have you been doing on the frugal front this week? Let us know in the comments!
:)
I bring the little shampoo bottles home from hotels instead of throwing out. I use them in my bathroom soap dispenser, saves me $$$ I don’t have to buy hand soap for the bathroom
That’s a great way to make use of something that 1) we all use/need and 2) would likely go to waste at the hotel after your stay anyway! I love it.
Check your health insurance, especially those with Medicare Advantage plans, for any benefits that will not carry over to the new year. Possibilities include extra benefits for free non prescription items, coverage for contact lenses or new glasses. USE YOUR HSA money before the end of the year.
YES! That’s great advice. In the case of “use it or lose it,” I want to use it every time!