5 Frugal Things: Lifetime Guarantee, Restaurant Leftovers, Fresh Produce & MORE!

by Texas Homesteader ~ 

This week I scored with a lifetime guarantee warranty, enjoyed a haul of fresh carrots, stretched restaurant leftovers for many meals at home and more. Come see the 5 Frugal Things we did this week to save money.

Come see this week's 5 frugal things to save money. #TexasHomesteader

There are always ways to save money if you just keep an eye out for opportunities. You can see all our 5 Fugal Things posts by clicking this button:

All our posts about 5 frugal things to save money. #TexasHomesteader

In the meantime, here are the 5 Frugal Things we did this week to save money.

1. Cashing In On Lifetime Warranty For Garden Tools

I love my Fisker’s *Big Grip Garden Knife and use it often in my garden. 

Fisker's Hori Hori garden knife weeding trowel. #TexasHomesteader

But this week it broke as I was using it. I told RancherMan I loved that tool and it would need to be replaced with the exact same garden knife. Nothing else would suffice.

Then I was pleasantly surprised to find out Fisker’s has a lifetime warranty on their garden tools. I submitted a warranty claim in addition to proof of damage and they will send a replacement. 

It's easy to use these tips to save money. #TexasHomesteader

I’ve said it many times – when we buy, we shop QUALITY first, only comparing price last.

This is why, y’all! 

2. Preserving Excess Produce

I was gifted a large amount of carrots that were harvest-field 2nds. Those  carrots were larger, misshapen, broken, etc. 

But I learned years ago it’s easy to play Fairy Godmother With Ugly Produce to make it beautiful again and reduce food waste! 🙂

No food waste! Ugly carrots can be trimmed to look like their more beautiful counterparts. #TexasHomesteader

To make sure none of the carrots went to waste I started by pressure canning a whopping 14 quarts of them to preserve them for our pantry.

I also stored lots of fresh carrots in my refrigerator. I made sure to make a plan to use them promptly by:

Placing peeled, sliced carrots in water in the fridge for healthy grab-n-go crunchy snacks.

I keep fresh carrots in a glass jar with a little water to keep the vegetables fresh longer. #TexasHomesteader

Used shredded carrots in homemade egg rolls

Southwest Egg Rolls crisping in an air fryer. #TexasHomesteader

Carrots shredded with cabbage in my homemade Coleslaw

Creamy coleslaw with cabbage, carrots and creamy dressing mayonnaise, vinegar, celery seed #TexasHomesteader

Steamed carrots with fresh rosemary included as a healthy veggie side dish

Peeled and chopped carrots included heavily in my Homemade Stew

Leftover roast with potatoes, carrots and vegetables makes a quick and healthy homemade stew.

Of course there were plenty of fresh carrots to share with friends & family too.

My diligence paid off – between sharing the fresh produce, pressure canning and planning fresh carrots into my meal plan, I got through all the carrots. No food waste!

3. Free Education & Entertainment – Garden Expo

This week RancherMan & I attended a local garden expo. There were free informative seminars, many booths to visit, auction items, etc.

Some booths offered the opportunity to buy seeds or plants. You could talk to master gardeners, extension agents and master naturalists. So much information in one place!

4. Stretching Asian Restaurant Leftovers

After the expo RancherMan & I joined a few family members at a nearby Asian restaurant. But I wasn’t wowed with my meal.

I’d asked for 5-star level hot & it just wasn’t. Plus I’d have liked to have more veggies included.

So I brought half my meal home in my Denim Takeout Container (no flimsy disposable Styrofoam containers for me!)

Repurposed denim made into a cute dish carrier to bring restaurant leftovers home. #TexasHomesteader

The next day I cooked & added more rice, some steamed carrots (’cause, you know, I had PLENTY!) and coarsely chopped fresh sautĂ©ed cabbage and onions.

It made a lot! Enough for both of us to enjoy for supper and a couple of lunches more besides.

To put the spice into this dish that I’d hoped for at the restaurant, I minced habanero peppers & stirred them into my portions. Perfect!

5. Saving Money In The Vegetable Garden

Here in NE Texas it’s almost time to plant the vegetable garden. I like to plant heirloom seeds when possible, but I also like to put actual seedlings in the ground.

Our vegetable garden offers us healthy fresh produce for pennies on the dollar. It’s fresher, healthier and much cheaper.

How do I plant cheap heirloom seeds (instead of buying more expensive heirloom plants) without getting behind in the gardening year?

I plant those seeds early in a Milk Jug Greenhouse

Milk Jug Greenhouse - Harden off for 1-2 weeks. #TexasHomesteader

Those seeds grew into beautiful seedlings in no time. They’ve already been transplanted into containers and are now being hardened off.

Next week they’ll go out into the garden. YIPPEE!

So there is my list of 5 Frugal Things we did to save money. There were more too, but they’re just typical every day money-saving steps we always utilize such as;

Made a half gallon of Homemade Yogurt

Homemade Meals (the EASY Way!)

Made 8 cups of Homemade Granola

Used Bacon-Flavored Mayo to make Egg Salad from our Hen’s Fresh Eggs.

Made a triple batch of Homemade Laundry Powder – Only 3 ingredients & I won’t need to make more for the rest of the year!

Homemade laundry powder takes only 3 ingredients - Fels Naptha laundry bar, borax & washing soda. #TexasHomesteader

…and much MORE!

It’s just a mindset, y’all. Watch for easy ways to save.

What did you do this week to save money?

~TxH~

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