The Frugal Five: #48

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 the daily or weekly activities that help us live a frugal life.

1- Harvested Rosemary

My rosemary plant did not survive the move, and its leaves became dried out. My husband carefully harvested all of the leaves and now we do not have to purchase rosemary for another year. Since the gardening season is upon us, so we will either grow another plant by seed or purchase a small plant.

2- Reused Grocery Store Bags

We try to reuse all items at least 1 additional time before it gets tossed into the trash. We reuse the grocery store bags at Aldi or our grocery store, carry donates to the Good Will, or as trash bags throughout the house.

3- Caring for Quality Items

We sharpen our knives twice a year, care for our wood cutting boards and marble countertops monthly and maintain the rest of our high-value possessions. Since we invest in value items, it is important to take care of them, so our cost per year will continue to be reduced as the years go by.

4- Banana Chip Muffins

We had a few bananas that were overripe, so I took the opportunity to turn them into banana chip muffins. Our church had a Sunday brunch and we signed up to bring pastries. Since, I was already bringing chocolate croissants, so adding a few muffins were nice.

5- 2 Weeks of Cooking Meals at Home

We slipped into ordering out every week, because I was just too tired to cook dinner after work at least 1 day a week. I decided to make an effort to cook ALL meals at home for as long as possible. After all, we spend a lot on food every week and it is important to eat what we invest in instead of wasting it. I started on April 1st and we are going 14 days strong. I am looking forward to keeping my streak going for at least 30 days.

Do you want to see what we did last week?

Just click on the picture for the link.

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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