Fourth Frugal Friday of October 2025

Welcome to Frugal Friday
Quote of the Week

"Be guided by the rule: If you don't need it, don’t buy it” ~ WW2 Ration Book

My Frugal Week
I stayed home Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday this week and didn’t spend any money. I will be going out today, but that is due to a tutoring session I have scheduled. 
After cleaning so much in Dad’s shed recently, I realize even more than before that I don’t want to leave a mess like that for Bailey when my time comes. So, on Tuesday I went through my filing cabinet and desk tossing out anything that I didn’t need and also made a small bag of items to donate. 
On Wednesday I measured and packaged fifty-one items for Bailey’s shops and caught up on towels and kitchen laundry. She already has another seventy items steamed and photographed, so I’ll work on measuring and packing those today. 
Bailey’s Birthday Weekend 
We love to spread birthday celebrations over a couple of days and this birthday was no exception for my Harry Potter loving girl. I’m frugal year round, but Christmas and birthdays are an area where I’ll splurge because they are important to us. 
We started on Friday and picked up her free Starbucks drink and entree from a local restaurant, and then spent the day at home with an afternoon tea, sharing videos with each other, tacos for dinner, and a game night. 

Bailey in the Ruddle’s Courtyard

Saturday we went to Ruddle’s Bread & Book store for their Harry Potter Diagon Alley book reading festival. Bailey is dressed for the occasion in her Harry Potter themed dress and jewelry. She had so much fun here as they had Harry Potter books for people to read and bookmark for the next person. She enjoyed a Butterbeer Latte while I enjoyed the spiced apple cider. 

"We invite all Witches and Wizards to join us for a week long, fully immersive Wizarding World experience inspired by our favorite book series Harry Potter!"

Bailey & Historical Marker 

Afterwards we went to Chattanooga for the Rails, Wizards & Spells Train Ride at the Tennessee Valley Railroad. This was a fun train ride to their “academy”. 

Wizard School Headmaster 

"Step into a world of wizarding fun at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum. Enter the enchanted forest to Wizards Way to find handcrafted wands, spell-holding charms, seasonal sweets, and hay rides. Then board at Platform 4 ½ for a memorable ride with Professors and later deboard for a live potions demonstration, and to see the engine turned for the return to Grand Junction."

Bailey & Belinda on the Train

On Sunday we went to McKay’s Used Books to spend her birthday credits and I took her out to eat at her favorite Chinese buffet. She told me it was a great birthday, which made me happy to have done all of that with her. 
The Great Cleanup Continues 

Before

 

After

On Monday I worked in the shed and took two carloads full to the convenience center and threw them into the dumpster including the second seat from Dad’s old Chevy truck. 
Dad also had old computer monitors stacked in the corner and I managed to get two of those dinosaurs gone. I know there is at least one more in there, but could be more underneath that pile. I took five contractor bags full of trash/debris and dumped those and saved the bags to reuse. 
I was able to clean the floor enough on one side to walk up to the shelves in there and could place items we are keeping for now on the shelves. 

Before 

 

After

He had a lot of vintage soda pop bottles, so I’m placing those on the shelves. They are worth money to someone and I won’t throw those away. I’m also finding a lot of tools and am placing all of those in one bin. 
I worked until I was worn out and my shoulder started hurting, so I called it a day. I went back out there on Thursday and continued the task. There were two more computer monitors, which I got rid of as well as three more contractor bags full of trash, several boxes, bins, old paint, etc. 

Before

After

For some reason there were a lot of leaves and acorns in there that were turning into compost. I cleaned all of that out of there and can finally say I have all the trash out of there, yay! 
There is still stuff in there, but included are antiques, glass, metal, a huge rock polisher and garden tools. It’s not exactly how I want it, but looks so much better than it did and I’m glad all that trash is gone. 
Saving on Electric

I was able to completely turn off the air conditioner on this week as we woke up to a temperature of 38 degrees outside on Monday morning. I’ve been wearing sweat shirts this week, which feels wonderful to me. 
Saving Money on Entertainment
This week I was happy to see Dateline: Secrets Uncovered on my Facebook feed. I’ve always enjoyed this show, so it’s free entertainment to be catching up on some older episodes. 
What I've been Reading This Week
I found an old 1950 Betty Crocker cookbook in Dad’s shed, so I’ve been reading it this week. Before I lost the weight I used to really love reading cookbooks, but nowadays my love of reading them has waned.  

This week I’m grateful for the good weather and sunshine, the gentle rain, which we needed and the vibrant colors of autumn. In all seasons and through the trials of our lives, we trust in God that He will provide all our needs. Philippians 4:19

How was your week?

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 🫶 💕 Homemaker at Heart 💕 ~ Living within our Means ~My Linktree
~ She looketh well to the ways of her household ~Proverbs 31:27