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The Frugal Five- #3

 The Frugal Five

With inflation on the rise and our salaries not being able to keep up, it seems like we have taken a pay cut and must be more careful with our money.   The Frugal Five is a series where we celebrate our daily or weekly activities that help us to live a frugal life.    



1- Adjust the Thermostat down

We are fortunate to have a Nest thermostat, so it is a little easier to regulate our heating.   Our change is only 1 degree, but every little adjustment makes a difference.   When we are home, the thermostat is set to 65 degrees and we layer up with a sweater.    When we are away or sleeping we set it to 60 degrees.    It takes a little adjustment with adjusting the thermostat when you get home or adjusting the thermostat heating schedule. 


2- Meatless Mondays

Meat prices are rising at a high rate and it is becoming more difficult to enjoy meat with every meal.    There are several family favorite meals that have no meat in them (chili, pasta, minestrone soup, noodle bake, pancakes), so we are rotating them into the meal plan at least 1 time per week, usually on Mondays.   


3- Limit and Make Snacks at home. 

Packaged snacks are an area where we can trip the grocery budget.  We limit the number of snacks per week to 1 purchased and 1 homemade snack per week for the family.   The pre-packaged snack is usually in the form of crackers or pretzels for our lunches.     


4- Homemade Bread 


Our diet limits our processed food consumption, so the bread can be expensive to purchase.    However, making your own is significantly cheaper.    With a little bit of practice, it becomes really easy to bake.       


5- Entertainment- Board Games 


Over the years we have picked up board games to enjoy with our family and friends.    We source our games from yard sales or major sales around the holidays.    In addition, we host game nights where everyone brings a snack to share and their favorite games.   It is a lot of fun and doesn’t cost anyone a lot of money.   


Do you have any frugal strategies to share?    

Please leave a comment below.   


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