The Frugal Five: #109

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- Baking Bread

Baking bread doesn’t seem like it would save a lot of money, but when you have specialized diets that do not permit you to purchase the cheaper products, it does save money. A clean loaf of bread costs between $3.00 and $5.00.

2- Free-Bee Alert

Make sure you don't fail to pick up your free items. Last month, I received a coupon for a free Silk milk from Kroger, but I had just picked up several almond milks, which would last through the month. Since this is a product with a use-by date, I waited until the end of the month and picked up the free product then.

3- Gas Prices

Energy prices in my area are rising, and with the current trade wars, I don’t think they will come down anytime soon. To minimize the impact on our family, we check gas prices at different gas stations, and Costco is still the cheapest option. However, I can use my Kroger gas points and drop the price to beat Costco about once per month. When buying gas at Kroger, I will make sure my gas tank is almost empty to ensure the largest savings.

4- Low-Cost Breakfasts

Here is another Low-Cost Breakfast. I will make a double batch of homemade pancakes and eat them for the entire week. Each morning, I heat them in the microwave, fresh fruit from the refrigerator, or a little syrup, and breakfast is served.

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

5- Stock Rotation

This week, I took a little time to look at my stock and pulled the oldest items to the front. In addition, I am pulling some items to the top of my cabinets to ensure that I use them this week. Finally, I created an inventory of my freezers and will be eating through them.

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: ...

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