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The Frugal Five: #99



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- Pantry Cooking    

This week I pulled most of my ingredients from the freezer or pantry to provide dinner for my family.   By rotating and eating through our freezer and pantry, we are not wasting our money because we are using the items we picked up at rock-bottom prices.         


2- Take Out from the Kitchen

We love getting Thai or Chinese takeout, but the cost of this option has gotten out of control.  After a little research, I tried to make Moo Goo Gai Pan at home.    After cutting the meat and vegetables, the dish came together quickly.    This step could be completed in advance, and we could have this dish during the week.     


Let’s look at the cost savings→ The ingredients were costly.  However, we compared the ingredient cost to the $45.00 it would have cost us to eat out, and we came out ahead.   As a bonus, I can make this dish again for the family for a fraction of the price, because many ingredients such as fish sauce or ginger have some left.   I will experiment with various recipes this year and see what other savings I can find. 


3- Elevating your Packed Lunches

Many of my colleagues order out at least 1 time per week.    Because we need to use a delivery app such as Doordash, the price of your take-out dish can double.   I get jealous when they get take-out on Fridays, so I make a point of elevating my pack lunch on Fridays.    I use glass containers and pick special items such as a deluxe salad or homemade soup with bread and as a bonus, I always include a little sweet treat. 


4- 5-15 Minute Clean


A clean house can turn into chaos quickly if you do not keep up with the clutter.    Over the holiday break,  we cleaned and de-cluttered the first floor of our home.    I take between 5 and 15 minutes daily to tackle another small area to create a home sanctuary.  We are only keeping the very best items and things of personal meaning.    I am thrilled with the results.    


5- Clean and Winterize Your Car


Winter is coming, so it is time to prepare your home, car, and wardrobe for the colder months.     The temperature in my area is starting to dip and I am craving soft warm sweaters, hot soups and drinks, and a cozy fire.    My garden has been put to bed for the winter, so the leaves, compost, and wood chips will make the soil healthy and ready to grow my vegetables in the spring.    Over November and December, we have prepared our home for the winter by doing a good cleaning, bringing up the firewood, bringing out the soft blankets, updating our bedding and so much more.   

My car needed a little love, so I cleaned and vacuumed it, cleaned the hard services, and updated my trunk’s emergency box.      



What Free-bees have you been able to pick up this year?   The  2024 Free-Bee Summary has been posted.    If you missed it, then click on the link below. 


Here is my list:

Do you want to see my last post?   

Just click on the picture for the link. 



Please leave a comment below with your ways of saving money this week.


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