Skip to main content

The Frugal Five: #94

 The Frugal Five: #94


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.    


I am exploring how to keep costs down during busy weeks. One strategy is to keep dinner on the table instead of eating out. Here are some of my tips and trips.   


1- Freebies  

Throughout the month, I was able to pick up freebies.   My grocery store has been offering store coupons on items throughout the month, so I took advantage of them. (bacon, bread, peanut butter, Bai, yogurt and so much more)   In addition, I received a free item (under $10.00) coupon from a local soap store.   I leveraged sales, coupons, and rebates from my local drugstore to pick up a few more items.   Finally, when there are perishables that will be bad within a few days, our school cafeteria will make them available for the staff.   I could pick up bananas and make banana chip muffins with them.    It was a nice treat. 


2- Gas Price Leverage 

This week gas prices varied by $0.40 per gallon.   I elected to drive about 3 miles out of my way to get a full tank of gas and saved $0.35 per gallon.    As a result, I saved $3.90.    I know this is under $5.00 but every little bit counts.    


3- Took Advantage of the Sales


We ran out of pre-packaged chips this week, but Kroger had a weekly sale on potato chips.    I bought 3 bags which will last at least 2 weeks.   In addition, I purchased 3 bags of cookies which should last at least 3 weeks.     We are still working on the items in the freezer, but our refrigerator is now under control. 


4- Cup of Joe from Home 

Every day I see my friends bringing in coffee cups from our local coffee shop and sometimes I feel a little jealous.   However, I remind myself that they are spending between $3.00 and $6.00 daily for that cup of joe.    I bring coffee from home and spend only $5.00 for the entire week and I drink a lot more coffee than they do.   


5- Free Bananas

Our cafeteria put out a lot of bananas last week because we went on our fall break.    I picked up several bananas and made 2 batches of banana chip muffins from what I had in the pantry.  My son was happy to have a grab-and-go breakfast for several days.    We are so grateful for everything we receive.  


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.


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 ...