With inflation on the rise and salaries not increasing, our ability to make ends meet is decreasing. Therefore, we must be more careful with our money. The Frugal Five is a series that celebrates the daily or weekly activities that help us live a frugal life. I am exploring ways to reduce costs during busy weeks. One strategy is to watch the pennies because they add up. Here are some of my tips and tricks. 1- Pantry Inventory By writing down and tracking your pantry items, you can maintain a consistent grocery rotation and utilize the food you have already purchased. Each month, I create a list of pantry items that are approaching expiration and make an effort to incorporate them into our menu planning. 2- Our Rich Backyard - Fall Clean Up When fall approaches, our family will invest some time into preparing the outside of our home for the winter. This weekend, the weather started t...
This year has provided our family with 128 free items ! This year, I am focusing on seeking fewer freebies but looking for higher-quality items to pick up. However, I will pick up all the free bees my family will use within the year. As a result, I may need to pay more for items previously picked up for free, but I am comfortable with this. Since I have changed my focus, I will not be making a goal this year. Instead, I will use my energy to research how to elevate the items I purchase or get for free in our current economy. Typically, I pick up freebies by leveraging digital coupons, store coupons, reward programs, samples, and rebate apps, such as Ibotta. I will seek additional ways to buy items at a significant discount or for free. January (13 Items) February (14 items) March (16 Items) April (...