2025-07 July Frugal Thread

[SassyAshley]

@lilo0003 , we are in the same position with Mom's car, she doesn't drive often and we are seeing the maintenance go up.

I really have to drive her car more, but also not going to lie I do prefer my own car. I know this will sound weird but ever since my accident (a few years ago) which was not my fault I am always worried something will happen when I am driving someone else's car.

We had to have her battery replaced, we picked it up yesterday and today I took it get new tires put on as her all seasons needed replacing.

[SassyAshley]

Good Afternoon Everyone,
Doing all the adult things over here.

We picked up Mom's car yesterday, treated ourselves to a starbucks for drive. We had the battery replaced in Mom's car but I still need to get the AC looked at. Need to find the best place to take it too but honestly, I am worried about the $$$ for that one.

Today we replaced her All Season Tires, she still had her Winter tires on. New tires are installed. I ended up taking Mom's car as she said she wouldn't be able to get in and out of the car today. So I worked in the waiting room but I was only there like 15 minutes. I was just getting into my work and they called me that the car was done.

I came home grabbed my car because I remembered I forgot to get gas yesterday. I had to come home as Mom's walker was in my car, I did not move it to her car so I had to come home to give her, her walker and I did not go back out. So I grabbed my car, put gas in it and ran into No Frills for a few things.

I did buy a few extras, I have some office days next week so I wanted to grab some quick foods for Mom to make herself. I always feel sad when she tells me she had cereal because everything else was too much work or would make her have to stand for too long. I grabbed a loaf of Rye with a Hint of Sourdough some Sandwich meat so she can make sandwiches. I also grabbed Salami and Crackers so she could make a snack plate. The Salami and Crackers were on sale.

Also on sale I grabbed bagels, peaches, apples, mandarins, vinegar, milk, steaks. The steaks were on my list but when I saw the packs, they looks like and I got 3 steaks for just over $13. Will pop them in the freezer.

Happy Friday Everyone.

[SassyAshley]

After some discussion I think we are going to replace the washer.

My fear is, it is 10+ years old and how much money do we want to put into it. Just to have the repair guy come look it is $125, I am pretty sure a belt broke, so the cost of the belt plus then his labour. It is so easy to hit $400 or $500 and that is about half the cost of a new machine and at this age how long before something else goes.

Not to mention it won't wash pillows anymore and my "normal" load of towels now needs to broken into 2 loads.

Here is the part I am not good at, now I have to pick a washer and a dryer. I am always so worried I am going to make the wrong decision so I over research and then cannot decided.

So far here are my thoughts:
I am 98% sold on going back to a top load possibly with a removable agitator? Top Load or Front Load?
I don't want Samsung or LG, I have heard too many bad things? What brands do you like?
Do people not use fabric softener anymore? Out of the 4 machines I was comparing only one had a fabric softener dispenser.
Have you ever used a Downy ball? Do they work?

Let me know your thoughts even if you disagree. This is the part I am bad at, growing up not going to lie something broke and Nanny would just replace it (generally she would just call the local place and order the middle of the range one, her exact words "not the cheapest, but don't need the bells and whistles"). I have bought appliances once and was lied to (turns out the person who sold them to us did not actually work in the appliance department and we were supposed to know this, is what we were told when we complained and tried to return them, they got all the facts wrong, my frost free freezer isn't frost free and my large capacity washer is not large capacity).

[Angela273]

I had a savings of approximately $405 in June.

Our Salvation Army had a 50% off clothing sale today and tomorrow, so I took the kids shopping with me. We bought two pairs of shorts and a t-shirt for Ds. One t-shirt for twin boy to grow into for a total of $5.50.

[Giseledta]

After some discussion I think we are going to replace the washer.

My fear is, it is 10+ years old and how much money do we want to put into it. Just to have the repair guy come look it is $125, I am pretty sure a belt broke, so the cost of the belt plus then his labour. It is so easy to hit $400 or $500 and that is about half the cost of a new machine and at this age how long before something else goes.

Not to mention it won't wash pillows anymore and my "normal" load of towels now needs to broken into 2 loads.

Here is the part I am not good at, now I have to pick a washer and a dryer. I am always so worried I am going to make the wrong decision so I over research and then cannot decided.

So far here are my thoughts:
I am 98% sold on going back to a top load possibly with a removable agitator? Top Load or Front Load?
I don't want Samsung or LG, I have heard too many bad things? What brands do you like?
Do people not use fabric softener anymore? Out of the 4 machines I was comparing only one had a fabric softener dispenser.
Have you ever used a Downy ball? Do they work?

Let me know your thoughts even if you disagree. This is the part I am bad at, growing up not going to lie something broke and Nanny would just replace it (generally she would just call the local place and order the middle of the range one, her exact words "not the cheapest, but don't need the bells and whistles"). I have bought appliances once and was lied to (turns out the person who sold them to us did not actually work in the appliance department and we were supposed to know this, is what we were told when we complained and tried to return them, they got all the facts wrong, my frost free freezer isn't frost free and my large capacity washer is not large capacity).

Do not do a LG washer. Absolutely a piece of.... and thier customer service is ... frustrating and expensive

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[walkonby]

@SassyAshley I commend the decision you made to go with new appliances and new warranties, however like you I am sort of lost when it cones to making a final decision.
Go with the whatever good or bad past experiences you've had with certain models and brands. Wish I was more help.

[lilo0003]

@coupongirl it’s not so much that groceries are cheaper here it’s the choice and ability to PM. In Nova Scotia I have a Sobeys, Giant Tiger, Superstore and the smallest Walmart ever. Fortunately they are super close so it’s not inconvenient to go to each store but we would never see blueberries for 1.88 or peppers for 2.88. Where we win is all the farm stands. So somethings are a lot less especially in the fall. Honey crisp apples for as cheap as 1.49. And don’t get me started on the price of coffee. I like the PC brand so I can often pair it with deals and I am the only coffee drinker. The coffee used to be 10.00 and not is 23.00 and I am sure it’s the same in Ontario. Last month I had an offer for 14.99 a container plus I had a personal offer of 2000 points for each one so I bought 6. That will last me until 2026 as I already had 3. @SassyAshley I had my washer motor replaced several years ago. it’s a whirlpool top load about 15 yrs old and my appliance guy who I trust said it was worth the 300.00 to fix it because whatever I bought would not last as long as my current washer. In NS we have a Samsung with no agitator and it’s top load. I just don’t understand the no agitator and it always leaves fuzz on my black pants so I need use the dryer more than I would like. I personally would never buy a Samsung appliance based on my fridge experience but this came with the house so we will use it until it dies. The Samsung dryer is fine. Seems efficient. I also don’t care if my washer and dryer match so I would only replace what’s broken, but that’s just me.

[cath007]

@SassyAshley: My washing machine and dryer I bought them in 2007.....LOL.
I cannot afford new ones. The big expenses where the fridge and the stove maybe 4-5 years ago...not cheap...LOL
Last fall I bought a new sofa couch too.....The other one was completely finish...This new one was new...So again not cheap...
Bought a new potable computer too.The other one was too broken.
Like 2 months ago ,I bought a small freezer for the conveniance too because I could not just fit what I wants anymore in the fridge freezer.....

Like you said in others posts....adulting is so hard...
The fridge I paid 550$ no taxes a few years ago ....Well same one is now 850$ not including taxes....LOL. AND IT IS A CHEAP ONE ,BASIC ONE!!!!
They are still working great,no problems.
The brand is Maytag.

[cath007]

I am awake but will soon returning to bed.
Because Eve the cat cannot climb the bed anymore and I put her in bed earlier.
And she don't always pee the evening.
So if I dont wake her in the midnight...........She tend to pee in my bed....LOL
Not fun...
The joy of having a old cat....
Don't get me wrong,I love Eve but this is not easy.


***** I did not like all the comments of the posts regarding my posts but I read them all.Thank you all !!!

[coupon girl]

Sassy ,my washing machine is a maytag and i have had it 12 years .Mind you the rotor is shot it is still going but i will get most likely another maytag .I have a top load i never would want a front load seen it at play at my sons,cant stand them .Not sure if i will get an agitator or not.
When the washer goes i will not get a set as i am like lilo, i dont care if they are missmatched my inglis dryer is about 11 or 12 years also and it drys great .

Well survived the 3 grandkids yesterday ,it was not easy a few fights or disagreements.lol
We went in my sons hot tub for a bit ,then Ashlyns friend invited the kids into her above ground pool .The neighbour said you can go home i watch from the window ,yeah no thanks if something ever happened to my grandkids on my watch yep i sat there for an hour in the heat .

My ex son-in-law just text us their is an accident on the way here from toronto so he may take a bit longer .So nice having a new cell phone .My kids send me pictures and text all the time instead of using the landline phone.

[lizzie bargain]

Glad you are enjoying your new phone CG-they really are amazing. We always turn on find my phone on road trips so folks can track us.

[coupon girl]

lizzie ,see my ex son-in-law just sent me a text he will be an hour or so later than expected so i will give my grandson lunch .Soooo easy ,nice to navigate ,but we are still learning.

[lizzie bargain]

I think you will find it so handy for many things-and rarely use it as a phone-lol. My daughters boyfriend had emergency alerts set up so when they crashed in Jan his Mum was notified right away-a mixed blessing as we did not know for awhile if they had survived or not as we were unable to reach them. It also alerts EMS which is a good thing especially in a snow storm when your car has tumbled down an embankment!!

[Giseledta]

@SassyAshley: My washing machine and dryer I bought them in 2007.....LOL.
I cannot afford new ones. The big expenses where the fridge and the stove maybe 4-5 years ago...not cheap...LOL
Last fall I bought a new sofa couch too.....The other one was completely finish...This new one was new...So again not cheap...
Bought a new potable computer too.The other one was too broken.

Like you said in others posts....adulting is so hard...
The fridge I paid 550$ no taxes a few years ago ....Well same one is now 850$ not including taxes....LOL.
They are still working great,no problems.
The brand is Maytag.

I bought a new fridge last fall...... I had a insane amount of sticker shock


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[Giseledta]

I am awake but will soon returning to bed.
Because Eve the cat cannot climb the bed anymore and I put her in bed earlier.
And she don't always pee the evening.
So if I dont wake her in the midnight...........She tend to pee in my bed....LOL
Not fun...
The joy of having a old cat....
Don't get me wrong,I love Eve but this is not easy.


***** I did not like all the comments of the posts regarding my posts but I read them all.Thank you all !!!

Things we do for our elderly animals. Hugs




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