The Frugal Five: #108

With inflation on the rise and salaries not increasing, our ability to make ends meet is decreasing. Therefore, we must be more careful with our money. The Frugal Five is a series in which we celebrate the daily or weekly activities that help us live a frugal life.

I am exploring ways to reduce costs during busy weeks. One strategy is to watch the pennies because they add up. Here are some of my tips and tricks.

1- Garden Set Up Continues

There is compost available, so I topped my garden bed. In addition, I planted my onion and garlic sets. I also started previously saved seeds for my small backyard bed. Another job done!

2- Free-Bee Alert

Meijer’s Perks had Ice Cream available from their coupon selection, so I spent 1500 points for an Ice Cream coupon. My son will be happy with this decision.

3- Staying Away from Takeout

Our family tends to become exhausted by the end of the work week, so we hit the easy button and eat out. This week, I found a packet of lunchmeat prepackaged to make hoagies. I plan to stop and pick up some rolls on Friday after work, and everyone will make their hoagie.

4- Low-Cost Breakfasts

Here is another Low-Cost Breakfast. A 10-oz box of Cheerios costs $4.29, but I picked up 3 boxes for $1.79 per box with a store coupon. Then I used a $1.50 off of 3 boxes to lower the cost to $1.29. Earlier in the month, I purchased 5 boxes of Honey Boxes of Oats for $1.69 each. Then I submitted to IBOTTA for $1.25 back, which reduced the price to $0.44.

If you want more ideas, check out my Breakfast for under a $1.00 post. Click on the picture above for the link.

5- Avoid the Snack Isle

The price of salty and sweet snacks has dramatically increased. I was shocked that a bag of chips or cookies is over $5.00 each. So, I dusted off my mixer and baked a cake to top with strawberries for our dessert. This will last the entire week, and we made the dessert for less than $3.00. Since this lasted us all week, it is a much better deal than a bag of cookies that lasts only a few days.

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.

Comments

Menu Planning: #245

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/or location. March USDA Thrifty Food Plan ccording to this plan our family would have a budget of $186.20 per week. Given our health concerns, we struggle to maintain this budget, but I am going to try to make this happen. Cost Saving Tip of the Week: Check your sale flyers for loss leaders. Each week grocery stores advertise specific products at a great price to get you in the store. Recently, I have noticed a very specific time frame for getting these deals. Good luck and happy hunting. Here is what we did this week to make our week easier: Refrigerator Clean Out Pre-cut all vegetables for the week Pulled older items to the front for easier consumption C...

Menu Planning: #250

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/or location. March USDA Thrifty Food Plan According to this plan our family would have a budget of $186.20 per week. Given our health concerns, we struggle to maintain this budget, but I am going to try to make this happen. Cost Saving Tip of the Week: When I purchase fruit for the week, it helps to calculate the cost per serving vs. the cost in general. For example, this week a whole watermelon was on sale for $3.99 each. When it is cut up, the watermelon will yield at least 20 servings which will place the cost per serving at $0.20. Here is what we did this week to make our week easier: Breakfast Options: Hard Boiled Eggs Yogurt Homemade Breakfast ba...

Menu Plan #307

Menu Plan #307 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. February 2025 USDA Thrifty Food Plan According to this plan, our family would have a budget of $189.30 per week. Since March has 4 weeks, our monthly budget is $757.20. 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. Grocery Shopping Tip: Utilize your grocery store’s loyalty program. This month, my 2 primary grocery stores have provided me with store coupons for bread, Silk milk, jelly candy, frozen vegetables, and Bali coconut water. Here is what we did this week to make our week easier: ...

The Sweet Life On A Budget

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