Mindful Chickens – Windy Sunday 2/24/19

Other people call them “frugal things I did lately”. I call them Mindful Chickens because they are about:

1. Being Cheap (cheap, cheep).

2. Being thoughtful about how choices affect our community and our earth.

3. Paying attention to the constant tumble of dollars and choices.

...

• We like “Imperfect Vegetables” which is a subscription service where one receives weekly boxes of imperfect produce that would otherwise be thrown away. The price of the produce is good, but delivery is $5. We realized we could order a larger amount every OTHER week, thus saving the $5 charge twice per month.
• Talked a while with a friend I am getting to know better. She has, as a side hustle, run flea market sales for decades. She mentioned this interesting tidbit. “Call an auctioneer when trying to empty out your house (or someone else’s house).  Estate-sales people will look, sort, prep, and sell for weeks.  An auctioneer will come in and pack up every single thing in a few days.” I’m (MB here) assuming one might earn less money this way but the job is in and done and no one has to mess with stuff for weeks on end. Of course, kids or friends or whomever should go through the home first to take what they want before the auction company is scheduled. I didn’t know this was a choice or option.

• Len did our taxes. (Len volunteers via AARP to do taxes for others. Check AARP and your zip code to possibly get your taxes done for free. You don’t have to be old or poor.) Len retired last year. Len did freelance work last year. I did some preaching. It wasn’t easy to predict what was going to happen with our taxes. We are relieved we are getting money back.
• Decided to sell some knick-knacks that I’ve owned for decades, some from my parents. A figurine sold for $50. I don’t have lots of valuable stuff, but I do have some. I’d rather have a new experience than keep an old bauble.
• I didn’t carve my Halloween pumpkin last fall. I meant to, just didn’t get around to it. I put it on a shelf in my kitchen where a few observant friends have politely (and humorously)  asked why I have a pumpkin for Christmas,for  January, for Valentine’s day. This past week I cut it, baked it, and scooped the veggie into nine 1-cup packs. They are now in the freezer for oatmeal or – pie?
• Today we are having 50-60 mph wind gusts. The office windows rattled – I looked up to see that an exterior screen was not snug in the frame so wind was catching and flapping it. By the end of this long day it would have pulled the whole thing out and set it sailing so I opened the window pulled the screen inside. I bet I saved the cost and aggravation of obtaining a new screen.

What have you done lately to be frugal and thoughtful?