Frugal Five: #133

 

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.   

1- Giving Back to the Community 

Supporting your community can take countless shapes. Some people choose to write a check, and that generosity absolutely matters. But many outreach efforts require more than funding—they need time, hands, and hearts willing to show up. I’m grateful that I’m able to participate in several programs that make a real difference for the people around me.

One of the most meaningful ways I give back is through our community garden. Throughout the summer, the garden provides fresh produce twice a week for our neighbors. This takes planting, tending, and harvesting alongside others which reminds me how powerful simple acts can be. A basket of tomatoes or a handful of herbs may seem small, but to someone in need, it can be nourishment, dignity, and hope.  

Our church also partners with Family Promise, a program that helps homeless families secure stable housing and learn the skills needed to stay financially independent. When it’s our congregation’s turn to host families, my ability to participate in sleeping over or cooking dinner is limited.  Even when I can’t be physically present every moment, I can still contribute by doing laundry, cooking meals, or purchasing groceries. Every task, no matter how small, supports a family working hard to rebuild their lives.

Another simple way I help is by picking up prepackaged snacks when I find them on sale and donating them to our local school. It’s a small gesture, but it ensures students have something to eat during the day—something many of us take for granted.

These small acts, woven together, create a stronger, more compassionate community—and I’m grateful to play even a tiny part in that.

2- Our Rich Backyard - Spring Planting 

This is the time of year when the soil finally starts to wake up—and so do we. Early spring is perfect for planting seeds directly into the Earth, especially cool‑weather crops like carrots, beets, radishes, onions, lettuces, and peas. These hardy vegetables don’t mind a little chill, which makes them ideal for getting a jump‑start on the growing season.

Both our kitchen garden and our community garden bed are now officially planted. There’s something satisfying about knowing that tiny seeds are tucked beneath the surface, quietly beginning their work.

It will take a few weeks before anything is visible. At first, the beds look still and unchanged, but underground the magic is already happening. And then—almost suddenly—the first little green peaks appear. They always do.

In just 30 to 60 days, these early plantings will reward our family with fresh, homegrown vegetables. Crisp lettuces for salads, sweet peas for snacking, and colorful roots pulled straight from the soil. It’s a simple rhythm of patience and payoff, and it never gets old.

Spring planting always feels like an act of hope, and this year is no different. 

3-  Eat at Home

It seems that work places are becoming more and more intense and zapping people’s energy which makes us tired and making dinner challenging.    However, by cooking and eating at home it will help to keep your budget in check.    During the week I use some of these strategies to eat at home, even during the hardest of days: emergency freezer meals, crockpot cooking, double cooking and eating twice, and simple meals.   

4- Treasure Hunt Completed

Our family has been shopping for new plates for at least six months.  When you browse retail stores or Amazon, the price range for a simple set of six plates usually falls between $20.00 and $103.00.  Since we’re not looking for fine china, our ideal price point for a 6‑plate set is between $20.00 and $30.00.  We also prefer a smaller‑sized plate that is elegant and well‑made. I’ve been checking different charity shops hoping to find something that fits our needs, and finally—I did.  A complete set of six plates for a total of $6.00.  

5- A Simple Kitchen Swap: Replacing Papertowels with Dishcloths

When Covid hit, everyday essentials suddenly became scarce. Paper towels, toilet paper, cleaning supplies—things we once grabbed without a second thought were suddenly hard to find. And honestly, the probability of something like this happening again isn’t far‑fetched.

But that moment in time gave many of us an unexpected opportunity: we had to get creative and rethink the way we solved everyday problems.

One small moment of frustration in my kitchen actually turned into one of my favorite household changes..

Like many people, I had a stash of dishrags tucked away in a drawer—clean, perfectly good, and rarely used. Instead of letting them sit there, I decided to give them a new purpose.

I grabbed a small basket from my basement, rolled the dishcloths neatly, and placed the basket right on my kitchen counter. Suddenly, I had a reusable, eco‑friendly alternative to paper towels without spending a dime.  This solution is convenient, reusable, eco-friendly and cost-effective.    It’s simple, sustainable, and honestly more effective than paper towels for most kitchen tasks. 

What is on Sale this Month?     This series looks at what is typically on sale during each month, so you can look ahead and make better choices. 

What Free-bees have you been able to pick up this year?   The  2025 Free-Bee Summary has been posted.    If you missed it, then click on the link below.  

Here is my list:

Did you miss the last Frugal Five post?  No worries, click on the picture for the link.

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