The Sweet Life On A Budget

  January provided our family with 11 free items !   This year I am focusing on being more selective on what I pick up for free.      I am still seeking high quality items or preferred brands which my family will use.  As a result, I may need to pay a little for items previously picked up for free, but I am comfortable with this.    I will not be making a goal again this year, but am grateful for anything I am able to secure for my family.    Instead, my energy will be used to research how to elevate the items I purchase or get for free in our current economy.         Traditional ways of picking up free-bees are as follows: digital coupons, printables from the company when available, store coupons and reward programs, samples, and rebate apps such as IBOTTA.     I will seek additional ways to buy items at a significant discount or free.        Janua...

  I was first introduced to Living Large In the Cheap Seats by a college friend, Chris J., who introduced me to lawn tickets for popular bands.   We were able to see great concerts at a significantly discounted rate.   Later when reading Brokenomics by Dina Gachman, I revised this concept and decided to share it with you.  I have been doing this for years and can enjoy wonderful FREE experiences! FREE Entrance to National Parks   NPS Photo .     National Parks are one of America’s treasures and are enjoyed by many.     Although some parks are free to the public, others charge entrance fees.    However, our National Park Service offers free entrance six times yearly to over 400 national parks.  I like to take advantage of these days to see the parks which normally have entrance fees.  It offers me and my family a chance to widen our experiences.    However, if you use the National Parks multiple tim...

  With inflation rising and salaries staying the same, our ability to make ends meet is becoming increasingly difficult. Therefore, we must be more careful with our money. The Frugal Five is a series that celebrates the daily or weekly activities that help us live a frugal life.     This year, my focus is on Simple Abundance , so finding ways to live well while staying on budget will be challenging.    Come along and enjoy my journey of elevating joy, enjoying what you have, and finding luxury in my local area.   20 1- Cook Once Eat Twice Are you finding it tough to juggle work and home life without feeling overwhelmed? Time has been tight in our house lately, and getting dinner on the table while working full‑time has become a real challenge. One strategy that’s been helping us is the “cook once, eat twice” approach. We make a larger batch of protein and turn it into two different meals on back‑to‑back days. Here are a few examples: Day 1 → Day ...

February Sale Cycle- 2026 There are cycles in the weather, economy, politics, and general fabrics of life. Still, 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 February Sales Cycles and give a few general tricks to make the most of your budget.  February tends to focus on the Super Bowl, Valentine's Day, Canned Food Month, National Hot Breakfast Month, Chinese New Year, and after-holiday sales.  Things to look for in February:  Breakfast Foods Boxed and Canned Asian Products Candy (after February 14th) Canned Fruits and Vegetables Canned Meat and Seafood Canned Pie Fillings Canned Soup Chocolate Oatmeal Pancake Mix Soy Sauce Syrup Waffles Aspirin Supp...

  Menu Plan #332 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 November 2025:  USDA Thrifty Food Plan According to this plan, our family’s weekly budget is $188.20.  Since January has 4 weeks, our monthly budget is $752.80.   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:     Know your Sale Cycles: The Superbowl is next weekend, so I am choosing NOT to purchase a list of items because I am anticipating them ...