Frugal Five: #97

 The Frugal Five: #97

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- Free Bee Pick Up    

I picked up a pack of Kroger Cheese Slices (8 ct) and Private Selection Hummus (10 oz) via Kroger Store Coupon. I was also given several apples and bananas, which I turned into banana bread and an apple crisp. Finally, CVS provided an opportunity to pick up Colgate Toothpaste and Colgate Mouthwash. 

2- Packing Lunches Daily 

Lunches cost about $15.00 per lunch, and they are satisfying.  On Monday, I packed a delicious salad with steak and a piece of garlic bread.   On Tuesday,  I dined on soup and half a sandwich with fruit.     On Wednesday, I  had a roast beef wrap, raw vegetables with dips, and a piece of fruit.     On Thursday, I took a bento box filled with meat, cheese, crackers, and fruit.    Finally, I packed a ham and cheese wrap, pickle, and Cheese It on Friday. 

3- Coffee To Go

Many of my colleagues purchase coffee from a local coffee house multiple times a week.    Regular coffee costs $5.00 per cup,  so it costs them between $10 and $15.00 each week.    I chose to brew my coffee at home and bring a to-go mug daily.   Since I pick up delicious Starbucks coffee (on sale) or German coffee, It costs me under $6.00 a week.  

4- Meat Sales

This week Sausage and Ground Beef was on sale at the grocery store.   We were low on both types of meat, so I picked up the maximum amount permitted.   Since I purchased them at a 33% discount, this will help to keep our grocery budget in check. 

5- Returned Item to Costco

Normally we pick up a 3-pack of guacamole for under $10.50 at Costco.   That comes to just $3.50 for a 10 oz container or $0.35 per ounce.     Unfortunately, after I got home, I discovered that one of the containers of guacamole was not sealed properly and leaked everywhere.   I returned it to Costco for a full refund.   Costco is great for returns.     However, the lines were long, so I went to the local grocery store for a container of guacamole.  My husband’s favorite brand was on sale for $3.99 for a 12 oz container or $0.33 per ounce, so I picked up a few. 

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

Here is my list:wa

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.