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Frugal Five- #7

 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- Save on Gas

I noticed my gas tank was very low and needed gas.   I checked the Gasbuddy app to see the price points for my local gas stations.   Since all of the stations were the same price, I selected the station that accepted my Kroger gas points.     WOW!  I was able to save $0.50 per gallon.    This came to a savings of $9.00.     


2- Grocery Budget: Build a Pantry 

Each week I try to keep $10.00 aside to build my pantry.    By checking the sales each week and investing in our pantry.  Through this habit, I am able to build my pantry when items are at their lowest price.    For example, last week, I took advantage of a Meijer deal that provided me with 12 large boxes of tissues for just $8.84 or $0.73 each.   


As a result, my pantry has grown over time while maintaining my budget.   


3- Hygge: Enjoyed the Gas Fireplace 

March and April have been unusual weather months for us.   Some days it would be warm and spring-like, but recently we have had several days of snow and hail.   On the cold days, I enjoyed our gas fireplace and the warmth that it provided.   


4- Cooking- Mexican Street Corn Chowder


On Sunday I made a huge pot of Mexican Street Corn Chowder and enjoyed taking it for lunch each day this week.   This made for a quick and hearty lunch.    This frugal dinner provided me with a family dinner and 5 individual lunches.     


5- Drinks to Go….. 

  

This week I took a little extra time each day to pack a travel mug of coffee and a lunch drink each day to take to work.    Given that coffee costs between $2.00 and $5.00 at Starbucks, I estimate that I saved about $10.00 by just taking my coffee each day.  In addition, if I needed to purchase a drink at work, my only choice was to purchase a soda for $2.00.   


Please leave a comment below with your ways of saving money this week.


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