Five Frugal Retirement Things

Now that the heat of the summer has past, much of the garden has perked up with our sixties and seventies weather. Our neighbor also has a large garden, and I may have mentioned before that a large vine or two were growing over the fence into our side. Mae said that we could have whatever was on the vine. Pumpkins!! Unfortunately the damned squirrels and rabbits gnawed through all but one that was fairly well hidden under the vines.The one that was left intact is huge, however!! It took a dolly to bring up this puppy (flatter on back that on the front) and get it placed.  The black marks?  It's coated for protection from critters in olive oil that has had red peppers steeping. We can only hope this makes it last the month!

A few fall flowers

See that pumpkin hiding among the green?

Meanwhile, a few frugal wins from this past week:

1.  This morning I went to the 11am movie and saw Blade Runner 2049. Frugal because there was a $5.00 senior/early morning price, I earned rewards through my AMC app, and I purchased my AMC gift card through Swagbucks on a double reward day, earning almost five dollars on a 25.00 gift certificate.  Lazy because they have the option of ordering food online and having your popcorn and such delivered to your seat (no extra fee) which I did. Unhealthy because I had popcorn, M&Ms and water for breakfast and lunch. But frugal, definitely frugal. I'm a firm believer in the idea that we cannot complain about movies or about movie theaters, if we are not supporting the business. If we always say "Oh, I'll wait for that to come on TV", and then complain about movie quality, that is in my perspective a huge part of the problem

In order to be kind to all who have not seen the film but still share my opinion, I'll just say that this two hour and 45 minute movie felt at most like an hour and a half, and I think everyone around me agreed. The place was sold out at an eleven am show and EVERYONE enjoyed and most people loved the film. Take from that what you will.

Edited to add: If you haven't seem the original Blade Runner, please do so. Even if you already saw this one. It will explain a great many things, including the brief appearance of Edward Olmos and his cryptic comments and much of the history of the replicants, way beyond the brief note at the beginning of the movie. I consider the original to be the best Sci Fi move ever and yes, that includes 2001 A Space Odyssey.

2.  I made this casserole from the Betty Crocker website for dinner tonight.  Ground beef was on sale, as was shredded cheese and I had piles of it. And because I made much more food than there were people last night, there were extra chips and pico de gallo and such for me to bring home. I plan for 20 people, sometimes there are more, sometimes less. I submit receipts and get reimbursed. Gennerally, I bring leftovers home unless they are easily perishable or sandwich/finger food in which case I drive to a nearby park where homeless teens camp and give it to the kids.  If any of you have made a recipe similar to this, I'll give two tips: Many recipes say to spread the re-fried beans on the chips and then add the ground beef mixture. I simply cook it all together including the beans. And I get the small container of the above mentioned pico that most groceries have in the produce section ready made, and mix it in.

3. I discovered two new mystery shopping apps and put them on my phone.These apps mainly have fifteen minute type jobs that one can do while they are out and about dong normal errands. Since I hit Target every other week or so, I was happy to see that there were many to be done in Target, most simply taking photos of the new lines and products they have and their displays. The other one will reimburse me as well as give me a small extra amount for eating breakfast at Mod Market.  Since I'm a breakfast gal (if I don't get eggs in the morning I need them sometime during the day), this is a win win for me. I would still be a win even if it were only reimbursement.  Anyone interested in an article on how I make money from my phone?

4.  I discovered that I my little suburban town, everyone over sixty five-be they owner or renter-get a property tax refund every year. My refund will only be about sixty dollars or so, but that's sixty dollars that goes in the travel fund for next year. I've already let my son know that post surgery, healing and the first month of PT or so, he's on his own so I can fly the coop for awhile. In other words, when he can dive and dress himeslf and not need pain medication, I can think about travel. Admittedly, that may be the end of January!

5. I repaired three good quality sweaters that each had small holes (from what I'm not sure, they were not moth-like). Using needle and thread that matched and a weaving motion, the end result is that not even family members could see where the repair was when I showed them.  I tend to buy a few quality pieces each year, and was unwilling to let these sweaters go yet. And I had  perfect timing. It's supposed to be mid seventies on Sunday, with a high of 38 on Monday and possible snow flurries. And then 70 again on Tuesday. Bring on the barometer related migranes and knee pain!!

What about you?  Any frugal (or other) wins or losses this week?