The Frugal Five: #80

 The Frugal Five: #79

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.    

This week I am exploring how to keep costs down during busy weeks.    Keeping dinner on the table instead of eating out is one of my strategies to get the job done.    Here are some of my tips and trips.   

1- Samples

Each time we go to Costco on the weekend, there are a lot of sample stations up and running.     I have been able to get unstoppable and tide samples.   In addition, there are various food stations set up throughout the store.      You can sample your way through the store.   In addition, I was able to order several samples this week.     

2- Free Photos

At the beginning of the month or around the month’s holiday, Walgreens typically provides a coupon code for a photo item.   Sometimes, CVS will also provide a coupon code for an 8X10 or 5X7 photo.   I select a few pictures from my vacation or pieces of artwork in our local area and print them throughout the year.  I will pick up nice frames at second-hand stores or through Michael’s when they are having a major sale.   Then, use the framed photo as a present for a birthday or holiday.    I picked up 2 photos around Valentine’s Day and 1 this week.       

3- Start Garden Plants from Seeds  

I renewed my community garden bed for this summer.    I am grateful that the prices didn’t go up and the garden bed includes all of the soil amendments, plants, seeds, and straw for the season.  This week I attended the gardener’s meeting to review all of the rules.   We will be getting together shortly to plant seeds for our beds.    In addition, if we have enough plants, then we are permitted to take a few for our home gardens.   I plan to plant 3 seasons of plants this season (spring, summer, and winter).    I am hoping to be able to provide my family with most of our vegetables from late spring through fall.   

4- Dinner at Home

We are making an effort not to get takeout or go out to eat.    We use our crock-pot and dinner kits to help keep us at home.  Costco has several kits for under $15.00 which will feed our family for 1-2 meals.    We pair these kits with a starchy vegetable (rice, potato, or mac and cheese) and a bagged vegetable.  This gets dinner on the table in less time than it takes to order out and pick it up on the way home.   These techniques come in handy on Thursdays when I earn a little extra money tutoring, so dinner needs to be fast.    

5- Unplug your Electronics

Most people are in the habit of keeping their electronics plugged in all the time.     By changing this little habit, you will not only save a little cash by not using as much electricity, but you will also preserve your battery life.       

What Free-bees have you been able to pick up this year?    My entire year is attached below.    

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.