The Sweet Life On A Budget

  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- Strategic Spending- Appliance Sale Cycle  Strategic spending is essential when you’re working to keep expenses below your income, and understanding sales cycles can make a big difference.  Memorial Day is traditionally one of the best times to replace major appliances because so many stores run competitive promotions.  Many retailers will even match each other’s perks, including free delivery, haul‑away, and instal...

  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- Strategic Spending Strategic spending is essential when you’re working to keep expenses below your income.  This year I learned a surprising tip: when a hospital sends a digital request asking you to pre‑pay an upcoming bill, wait .  If you call and speak directly with a cashier, you may qualify for a discount.  With several procedures on our calendar, this simple step has saved us thousands of dollars.  I enc...

  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- Strategic Spending Strategic Spending is all about pre‑planning every dollar before you spend it. Over the last month, I’ve been putting this approach into practice specifically with my grocery budget—and the results have been impressive. By intentionally shopping at two stores located close to each other, I reduced my grocery bill to around $500 last month. Here’s what made the biggest difference: 1. Price Points Vary More Than...

  This year has provided our family with 36 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.       ...

  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 b...

  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- Gas Prices→ Limited Control   Gas prices continue to rise as we feel the ripple effects of the closing of the Strait of Hormuz. Fuel is one of those unavoidable expenses, but unlike rent or insurance, it isn’t fixed—so every spike hits your budget a little differently. The good news is that with a bit of planning and creativity, you can soften the impact. Walk Whenever You Can:  Our community garden activities are ra...