Skip to main content

Frugal Five: #70

 The Frugal Five: #70


With inflation on the rise and salaries not increasing, our ability to make ends meet keeps going down.    Therefore, we 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- Took Advantage of FREE Food

This week my school's PTO provided dinner for the teachers and there was a lot left over.     The teachers were able to make lunch the next day and since the large trays of salad and fruit were headed for the trashcan because it was Friday, I was permitted to take some salad and fruit home for dinner.     In addition, the school cafeteria was getting rid of a huge pile of bananas.    I picked up a few to add to the fruit salad and banana chip muffins.   


2- Practicing Discipline and Restraint


Last week, my husband indicated that we should pick up some LaCroix water for our son, but it would cost us the full price($4.99).   I knew the sale cycle was close to having our favorite produce on sale, so we waited to purchase it.    Our patience paid off!   This week it is on sale for $2.99.  We were happy to pick up our limit and ration it out so it lasts until the next sale.  


3- Using Leftovers 

 

Leftovers are one of my secret or not-so-secret tricks to saving money each week.   We use them in so many ways.   We take them for lunches or remake them into a new dinner the next night.    Our next trick is to clean out the refrigerator at least one time per week and put out all of the smaller portions of leftovers for dinner. Finally, if we still have some individual portions of leftovers, they are popped into the freezer for lunch the next week.   


4- Side Hustle 

Grateful for my side hustle.     Twice a week, I tutor a student in reading, and this adds a little money to my “fun” budget.   In addition, I use this money to pay for my Orton Gillingham materials, coursework, and observations.    I used some of this “fun” budget money to pick up soda for the family for the next 3 months.   

     

5- Asking our Contractors to Fix Errors


When we decided to invest in our home and get our basement sealed, it was a big decision due to the price.   Unfortunately, there were a few issues with the project.  Now some of the cosmetic issues, we chose not to make a fuss about because is a concrete floor and we plan to cover it someday.   However, one of our radiators was damaged and the pipe that connected a sink to the drain was severed.    My husband worked with the company and although it took a little while to get everything fixed, the company did make all the issues right and we are grateful.     We found that by hiring quality companies and being respectful when communicating with others, people are generally fair and honest.      


What Free-bees have you been able to pick up this year?    My September free-bee haul knocked it out of the park!    Hopefully, October will pick up soon, because it is looking a lot like my August haul.      


Here is my list: 

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

Popular posts from this blog

Keeping Cool Without an AC- Part 5

  The news is full of headlines indicating that energy shortages are on the horizon for most of the world. Over the decades, we have become reliant on the coolness of our air conditioners and have forgotten how we survived without them. It is now time to rediscover how to stay cool without our AC. Our 5 part series provides ideas on how to beat the heat this summer without the AC.     House Adjustments- Part 2 By placing house plants, such as English ivy, ficus, and spider plants, throughout your home, you can drop the overall temperature of your house by 10 degrees. In addition, house plants are air purifiers and add oxygen to your home.     For quick relief, create a personal mister to help drop the temperature of your skin: thus making you feel colder. Some people combine a spray bottle and a fan to create a cooling effect. However, I use just the spray bottle with cold water throughout the day and it keeps me cool. In addition, we use coo...

Meal Planning: #287

  Menu Plan #287 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.      August  USDA Low Food Plan According to this plan, our family would have a budget of $185.60 per week.  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.          Here is what we did this week to make our week easier:   Breakfast Options:  Yogurt Muffins Egg Sandwiches Lunch Options: Grilled Chicken  Salads Chicken Salad Monday Hamburgers Roasted Potatoes Corn  Tuesday Street Tacos Salad Wednesday Enchilada Salad Chips w/ Salsa Thursday Leftovers Friday Chicken Parmesan Pasta Sal...

Frugal Five: #73

  The Frugal Five: #73 With inflation on the rise and salaries not increasing, our ability to make ends meet keeps going down.    Therefore, we 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- “Potluck” lunch At work this week, we are having a potluck appetizer/dessert party for a colleague’s 60th birthday.  Everyone is expected to bring an appetizer or dessert for the party.    Since there will be a lot of food provided by everyone, I am not bringing my lunch that day and will eat from whatever people have brought.   In addition, on Friday, our social committee is providing us with a turkey lunch feast.     2- Picking up a Cheap Turkey This week at Kroger, if you spend $25.00, then you can purchase a Kroger turkey for just $0.49 per pound.  Although we do not prefer dark meat, we decided to take ...