The Sweet Life On A Budget

January Sale Cycles- 2026 There are cycles in the weather, economy, politics, and general fabrics of life, but the cycle that I have focused on recently is the sale cycles which seem to be predictable and constant.  Therefore, caution is best served here because overspending can easily occur in the name of saving money.  Since knowledge is power, here are a few tricks and skills to help you make an informed decision on your cycles.  This month, we will focus on the January sales cycles and give you a few general tricks to help you maximize your budget.  January tends to be focused on getting healthy, New Year’s Resolutions, colds, and after-holiday sales.  Here are some of the things I look for in January:  Health and Beauty Cold Medicine Pain Relievers Vitamins Cough Drops Tissues  New product lines (Hair Color, Beauty Products, Cosmedics)  Getting Healthy  Soup Jello  Healthy foods (Healthy Choice, South Beach)  Lara Bars Oats/Qua...

  Menu Plan #330 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 these dishes may be higher due to inflation and/or location.      Published September 2025:  USDA Thrifty Food Plan According to this plan, our family’s weekly budget is $190.80.  Since January has 4 weeks, our monthly budget is $763.20.   However, we have specific dietary needs, so I have increased our budget to $200.00 per week or $800.00 for a month.     We elevate our dining experiences by including fresh fruits, vegetables, and higher-quality meats.  Since our family has specific dietary needs, we limit our consumption of highly processed food.   Grocery Shopping Tip:     Always check the reduced products at the grocery store.   This past week I found 11 oz of Starbucks Speciality Coffee for $2.47....

  This year, our family received 157 free items !   This year, I am focusing on seeking fewer freebies but looking for higher-quality items to pick up.    However, I will pick up all the free bees my family will use within the year.  As a result, I may need to pay more for items previously picked up for free, but I am comfortable with this.    Since I have changed my focus, I will not be making a goal this year.    Instead, I will use my energy to research how to elevate the items I purchase or get for free in our current economy.    Last year, I was able to get 271 items for free, and this year my total came in at 157, which is 114 fewer than last year.  However, since I have elevated the types of items I pick up, and the economy continues to make it harder to get free items, this is still a win.  Typically, I pick up freebies by leveraging digital coupons, store coupons, store reward programs, samples, and...