The Frugal Five: #24

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 live a frugal life.

1- Cut My Husband’s Hair

Haircuts are getting very expensive, around $25.00 + Tip. Our solution is that we picked up a new razor guard and learned to cut his hair in the garage. Although the rest of the family goes to a hairdresser, we do save about $60.00 a month.

2- Discounted Gas Prices

Although gas prices seem to be going down, I am aware that different parts of our town command different gas prices. The difference can be as high as $0.25/gallon. Although this doesn’t seem like a lot, for a 20-gallon tank 1 time per week, the yearly savings is approximately $260.00 per car.

Pro-Tip: In addition to using Gas Buddy, we also signed up for the Shell Saving Program which saves us $0.05 per gallon each time. To further maximize our savings, we selected gas charges as our preferred discount on our credit card, so we get a 3% refund.

3- Brew our Coffee at Home

Getting coffee on the way to work is expensive. For a Grande Regular coffee, it cost almost $4.00 per cup. I spend a little extra on coffee creamer, and good coffee grounds at Kroger or pick up the German Mild Coffee from Aldi and brew it at home. My to-go cup is larger than a Grande and I enjoy a hot cup of coffee throughout my morning. Since we both take coffee to work, it would cost us $8.00 per day and I estimate that we spend less than $1.00 for both of our coffee.

4- Sample Requests Arrived this Week

I requested a Mabelline New York Matte Ink Lipstick (Full Size/$9.49) and Cascade Platinum Dishwasher Tabs (2 ct/$0.86) last month and these items finally arrived.

5-Reducing Waste

The other week, I was so sad because I had to throw away several perishable food items due to spoilage. Instead of staying focused on the negative, I made a plan to prevent that from happening again this week. I cleaned out the refrigerator and noticed several items that were in there for a while. Solution- Eggs w/ Feta Cheese, Greek Salad w/ Feta Cheese, Grilled Zucchini, and so much more. I’m planning on doing this again next week.

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

Comments

Menu Planning: #245

NOTE- 1- Click on the picture and get a link to a post sharing the recipe. 2- Although all prices were correct at the time of the blog postings, the current cost of preparation of these dishes may be higher due to inflation and/or location. March USDA Thrifty Food Plan ccording to this plan our family would have a budget of $186.20 per week. Given our health concerns, we struggle to maintain this budget, but I am going to try to make this happen. Cost Saving Tip of the Week: Check your sale flyers for loss leaders. Each week grocery stores advertise specific products at a great price to get you in the store. Recently, I have noticed a very specific time frame for getting these deals. Good luck and happy hunting. Here is what we did this week to make our week easier: Refrigerator Clean Out Pre-cut all vegetables for the week Pulled older items to the front for easier consumption C...

Menu Planning: #250

NOTE- 1- Click on the picture and get a link to a post sharing the recipe. 2- Although all prices were correct at the time of the blog postings, the current cost of preparation of these dishes may be higher due to inflation and/or location. March USDA Thrifty Food Plan According to this plan our family would have a budget of $186.20 per week. Given our health concerns, we struggle to maintain this budget, but I am going to try to make this happen. Cost Saving Tip of the Week: When I purchase fruit for the week, it helps to calculate the cost per serving vs. the cost in general. For example, this week a whole watermelon was on sale for $3.99 each. When it is cut up, the watermelon will yield at least 20 servings which will place the cost per serving at $0.20. Here is what we did this week to make our week easier: Breakfast Options: Hard Boiled Eggs Yogurt Homemade Breakfast ba...

Menu Plan #307

Menu Plan #307 NOTE- 1- Click on the picture and get a link to a post sharing the recipe. 2- Although all prices were correct at the time of the blog postings, the current cost of preparation of these dishes may be higher due to inflation and location. February 2025 USDA Thrifty Food Plan According to this plan, our family would have a budget of $189.30 per week. Since March has 4 weeks, our monthly budget is $757.20. We elevate our dining experiences by including fresh fruits, vegetables, and higher-quality meats. Since we have health concerns and are active individuals, we limit our processed food choices. Grocery Shopping Tip: Utilize your grocery store’s loyalty program. This month, my 2 primary grocery stores have provided me with store coupons for bread, Silk milk, jelly candy, frozen vegetables, and Bali coconut water. Here is what we did this week to make our week easier: ...

The Sweet Life On A Budget

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