Second Frugal Friday of June 2022

Welcome to Friday! 
Quote of the Week

Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.

~ Mark Twain

My Frugal Week
Thank you for all the kind comments you made to me about my Mom. Each one was thoughtful and comforting to me and I wanted you all to know that they meant so much to me. Thank you. ❤️ 
It looks like Blogger has fixed the issues with commenting.  I’ve switched my comment section back over to embedded, so I can respond to each comment. I like it so much better that way. Keeping my fingers crossed that it continues to work. 
We went to several yard sales on Saturday and Bailey was able to get restocked on clothing inventory for her shops. She ended up with 124 pieces of clothing for her shops. 

For the house we found two Tervis hot beverage mugs. I actually wanted one of these for Christmas, so it was neat to find two on the same day. The one I wanted on Amazon goes for $16.99 and these were $2.00 each, so a good deal. We also found an old Planters peanut jar from 1981, which I will use for storage. Also, a new strainer/steamer and a casserole dish. 

I’ve decided to buy casserole dishes when I find them. Rather than use disposable foil pans when bringing food to a potluck, I’ll be using casserole dishes I find at yard sales. 
Whenever we go to Bailey’s uncle’s home for a get together I usually leave my dishes behind and get them back at the next get together. I found a blue rectangle one, which will be perfect for such an event, and was only $2.00 at a yard sale this weekend. 
Then on Sunday evening I happened to read a Facebook post by someone in our community giving away all their yard sale stuff for free. Bailey went over and picked out multiple clothing items and a glass bowl and 11 x 15 Anchor Hocking casserole dish for me. I was so tickled as I’ve never had one that big before. 
I hired someone to help me with some cleaning and moving this week. My Dad had boxes of books in one of the closets. He hasn’t lived here in over ten years, so it was time. He still has an office with his stuff downstairs where he ran his business for years, so the lady I hired carried all of them down there for me. It's wonderful to have reclaimed that space. 
One of the reasons I was in that closet was to sort through papers and pictures. I labeled one box for me, one for my brother, and one for my sister, and put each item in its rightful box. My Mom kept many things of ours and I know they will be thrilled to get a box of their own stuff that she lovingly kept all these years. And it’s been cathartic for me in the process.
The Story of a Millionaire & Catching Up with an Old Friend
On Wednesday evening I spoke with a childhood friend. We spent many days and nights at each others homes when we were growing up. Both our parents did the flea markets on the weekend, so we would always hang out there too and of course at school. 
Her Dad was a union man who worked for International Harvester in Chicago and sold at multiple flea markets every weekend, all year long. He spent his childhood in an orphanage with nuns and priests and started life with basically nothing.
He was the definition of frugal and would make deals with the produce men at the flea market on boxes of produce to feed his family. He made similar deals with the butcher and anyone else who he could trade or barter for food with including dumpster dived food. 
He made deals with businesses to pick up their discarded wooden pallets and took them home and cut them up for firewood  to save money on heating. He would bring sandwiches all stacked neatly in the bread bag to feed his family at the flea market. He had a camp stove in his booth at the flea market and would make popcorn as a snack for the kids. 
Although he wore a white shirt and tie for work he dressed plainly on the weekends. No fancy designer clothes for him, his wife or children. 
He passed away last year and rather than leave his estate to his children, he left it to his twelve grandchildren. Each one of them has a trust fund set up in their own name when they turn 21 years old with each one receiving around $140,000 each.
His safety deposit box at the bank had so many silver bars in it that they had a party and gave several to each grandchild. 
To say I was floored would be an understatement. He certainly did not seem or act like a millionaire, but he was a hard worker and so were his children. I knew he was frugal but didn’t know he was a millionaire. My friend didn’t know either and was as shocked as me when she learned the news.
It’s a testament to how a man who started his life with nothing used hard work and frugality to make a fortune.
Question of the Week
What are you or your family doing to combat the high gas prices? 
Meals This Week
Friday: Hamburgers, Tater Tots, Lettuce, Tomatoes, and Onions. 
Saturday:  Shrimp, Egg Rolls, Cabbage & Kale Greens.
Sunday: Patty Melts, French Fries, Cole Slaw. 
Monday: Chicken Sandwiches, Tater Tots, Teriyaki Stir Fry. 
Tuesday: Homemade Pizza for Movie Night. 🎥 
Wednesday: Tacos ~ I chopped and grated the toppings early in the day, so when dinner time rolled around all I had to do was brown and season the meat and heat up the tortillas. 
Thursday: Chicken Fajitas, Stir Fry Vegetables.

Thank you for dropping by my frugal blog, you are always welcome here. 
We would love to hear all about your week in the comment section.
Belinda~ Living within our Means ~My Linktree