A few minutes after my 5 am alarm went off, strong storms knocked out electricity in our neighborhood. So far our home seems to be without damage, just some branches and things knocked over that are easily dealt with.
Hopefully the electricity comes back soon, though. I just did about $300 worth of grocery shopping this weekend. It would really suck to have to replace it
If you know me, you know I love coffee, and I prefer my morning coffee hot. I’m not ready to dig out a camping stove yet, so I tried a hack I saw floating around. You put four tea lights in the cups of a muffin tin and put a pan of water or whatever you’re trying to heat above them. I fully expected it not to work, but it did! The water even started boiling. It did take a while, but I got my hot coffee.
I did try using my tea kettle first, but the saucepan worked better.
Since the electricity is out, I am writing this on my phone, so please excuse any typos. 😄
In today’s economy, saving money at home isn’t just a smart move—it’s essential. Whether you’re looking to build an emergency fund, reduce debt, or simply need more funds for food or rent, mastering the art of frugality can make a significant difference. Here, we’ll explore ten easy ways to cut costs and boost your savings without sacrificing comfort or quality of life.
1. Embrace Meal Planning
Meal planning is a simple yet effective way to streamline your grocery shopping and reduce food waste and unnecessary purchases. By planning your meals for the week, you can avoid impulse purchases and ensure you’re using ingredients efficiently.
How to get started:
Set aside time each week to plan meals.
Create a shopping list based on your plan and stick to it.
Incorporate leftovers into your meal plan to maximize usage.
If you need a little help, I have a Meal Planner in my shop. It’s in PDF format, so you’ll get it instantly, and you can either print the pages you need or use them digitally. It’s on sale for a limited time for only $0.99, so get it now.
2. DIY Home Maintenance
Handling minor home repairs and maintenance yourself can save you a ton of money. You can find tutorials for just about anything online for free. I usually watch or read a few before starting to really know what I’m getting into, and different people have different tips and tricks.
How to get started:
Start with simple tasks like fixing leaky faucets or painting walls.
Use online tutorials and guides to learn new skills.
Invest in a basic toolkit for home repairs. For bigger tools, see if there’s a place to rent them or if a friend has one you can borrow until you know it’s worth purchasing.
With streaming services for everything, cutting the cord on traditional cable can lead to big savings on your monthly entertainment bill. It’s easy to subscribe to so many that you end up not using them often enough to justify the cost.
How to get started:
Evaluate your current cable and/or streaming usage and identify unnecessary channels.
See what streaming services you’ll realistically use this month. You can always pause or cancel and resubscribe in a month or two to lesser used ones. I try to only have one or two active subscriptions at a time.
Don’t forget about free streaming channels, YouTube and antenna TV as well.
Look for bundles that offer internet and streaming services together.
4. Optimize Energy Efficiency
Improving your home’s energy efficiency can greatly reduce utility bills and contribute to environmental sustainability.
How to get started:
Replace incandescent bulbs with energy-efficient LEDs.
Seal drafts around windows and doors.
Use a programmable thermostat to optimize heating and cooling.
Unplug or turn off things when not in use.
Take advantage of sunlight and nice outside temperatures by opening windows and turning off the AC.
Dress efficiently for the temps. Add or subtract layers before reaching for the thermostat.
5. Practice Mindful Consumption
Being mindful about what you buy and consume leads to smarter financial decisions and reduces clutter in your home. (Bonus: Less clutter means less to clean!)
How to get started:
Ask yourself if a purchase is a need or a want before buying. It’s okay to splurge on a “want”, but it’s important to know the difference with mindful spending.
Declutter regularly to understand what items are truly worth it. If you didn’t use something similar the first time, you probably don’t need it.
Practice gratitude for what you have, reducing the urge to buy more.
Be creative! Do you already own something that could work instead? Can you easily make it?
6. Grow Your Own Food
Starting a small garden can provide fresh fruits, herbs and vegetables while reducing grocery expenses.
How to get started:
Start with easy-to-grow vegetables like tomatoes, lettuce, and herbs.
Use vertical space or try container gardening if space is limited. (Container gardens are a good way to reuse plastic containers, too!)
Learn about composting to enrich your garden’s soil.
Green bell peppers
7. Make Use of Public Libraries
I love the library! Public libraries offer a wealth of free resources, from books, ebooks and movies to workshops and events. One of my local libraries now offers kits for things like baking, exercise, self-care and gardening that you can check out. I’ve even heard of libraries offering seed-sharing catalogs.
How to get started:
Sign up for a library card and explore the available resources. If you’re in a metro area, there’s a good chance you have access to more than one library.
Make friends with your librarians. They’ll let you know about new books and resources that are of interest to you.
Check out digital offerings, such as e-books and audiobooks.
Attend free workshops and community events.
8. Embrace Second-Hand Shopping
Everyone knows I love thrifting. There’s not much in my home that I bought new. Buying second-hand items can save money and keep things out of the landfill.
How to get started:
Explore thrift stores, consignment shops, and online marketplaces.
Look for quality items that are gently used or easy to mend or repurpose.
Attend garage sales for unique finds. Garage sales are usually cheaper than thrift stores but can take more hunting to find what you need.
Don’t forget about free second-hand shopping. Look for local buy nothing groups, “come and get it” postings, and good, usable stuff people are throwing away. One (wo)man’s trash is another (wo)man’s treasure, just make sure it was actually intended as trash, and familiarize yourself with local dumpster diving laws if you’re going that route.
9. Cancel Unused Subscriptions
Unused subscriptions can quietly drain your finances. Cancelling them can free up extra cash.
How to get started:
Check your bank statements for recurring charges.
Evaluate each subscription. Are you actually using it? Is there a free option that can fill it’s place?
Cancel those that are not used or necessary, or pause them if you know you’ll need them in a few months.
10. Implement a No-Spend Challenge
It’s easy to get into spending habits. A no-spend challenge involves refraining from non-essential purchases for a set period of time. This helps make it easier to identify non-essential and impulse purchases, saving you money during and after the no-spend challenge.
How to get started:
Choose a timeframe (week, month) and define what counts as non-essential.
Focus on using what you have and finding free activities.
Reflect on the challenge to identify spending triggers.
Brainstorm other ways to handle triggers and make do with what you have.
Conclusion
Adopting creative strategies to save money at home is not just about not spending—it’s about making mindful, intentional choices that lead to better financial health and sustainability. Not all of these tips will work for everyone, but implementing even a few can help with your financial burden. What other tips can you share? Please, comment down below.
Meal Planner PDF Printable
Stay organized and take the stress out of meal planning with our versatile PDF Meal Planner! Whether you prefer to jot down your ideas by hand or manage everything digitally, this meal planner is the perfect tool to keep your meals on track.
Features:
Printable Design: Print the planner to create a tangible guide for y…
Back in February of 2020 I posted a price comparison between Walmart and Kroger to see who had the cheapest prices on groceries. As much as I’d rather not compare today’s prices to those from five years ago (ouch!) I thought it would be a good time to see if Kroger is still the winner.
Kroger vs. Walmart: The Plan
As I did last time, I created a grocery pickup list for each store. While our dietary needs have changed a bit over the past five years, for simplicity’s sake I kept the same list. It’s still pretty accurate representation of staples I regularly purchase. As much as possible, I matched brands at each store or chose the store brand at both. I used the normal price rather than the sale price where applicable. Due to previously being strictly gluten and dairy free, things like bread and milk that most people regularly purchase won’t be on my list.
The Food and Price Comparison
Coffee: Kroger Select Blend Medium Roast, 30.5 oz, $9.99. Walmart Great Value Classic Roast Medium Ground Coffee, 30.5 oz. $10.93. Winner: Walmart Kroger (Also, this one HURT. If you’re a big coffee drinker, too, you may not want to revisit the 2020 prices.)
Frozen Mixed Vegetables: Kroger Store Brand, 32 oz, $2.99. Walmart Great Value Brand, 32 oz, $2.48. Winner: Walmart
Bath Tissue: Kroger 1000 Sheets per Roll Bath Tissue, 12 rolls, $9.29, $0.77 per roll. Walmart Great Value 1000 Bath Tissue Rolls, 16 rolls, $11.62, $0.72 per roll. Winner: Tie Walmart
Walmart is the winner this time around by $4.79. Depending on your budget, that’s significant. If I had gone by the sale price and used digital coupons at Kroger, I would have saved $3. Still not enough to overtake Walmart, but it would bring it close enough in my opinion to choose which store to go to based off convenience or preference.
My Take
Even before this side-by-side comparison, I’ve tended towards shopping at the Walmart Neighborhood Market closest to my house. It’s about a mile closer than Kroger, and it has a fuel center. There are some things I still find to be better quality at Kroger, though, and I prefer Kroger overall, so I will probably continue to pick based off of what I’m needing and if I know something is on sale at one of the locations.
I’ve also been going to Aldi more. They’re great for staples, the produce at mine is usually good quality, and they’re closer to me than the other two stores. If you’d like me to do a price rundown of a similar list from Aldi, let me know in the comments.
Like I said earlier, my shopping list may look nothing like your shopping list. With more and more stores offering online shopping for pickup or delivery, it’s worth it to periodically do a price comparison between your local stores. It’s so easy to do online, and you may learn ways to adjust your shopping habits and save money.
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I know it’s August. I know it’s about a million degrees outside. I don’t care. I’m ready for cool breezes, for crunchy leaves, flannel shirts and all things pumpkin. As someone who runs off copious amounts of caffeine, my favorite way to enjoy pumpkin is a hot Pumpkin Spice Latte. Here’s my favorite recipe to make a pumpkin spice latte myself when a store-bought latte is too much of a splurge, or I just don’t want to leave the house. You can make it with tea, coffee or turn it into a smoothie for a healthy, frugal way to enjoy pumpkin spice at home.
2-3 tablespoons of milk (original recipe called for coconut. I usually use almond milk. You can use whole milk, too.)
1/3-1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon cloves
¼ teaspoon ginger
1/8 teaspoon allspice
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
Optional: a dash to 1/8 teaspoon of turmeric
Maple syrup, sugar or honey to taste. I like maple syrup.
To make:
Blend all ingredients together. Top with whipped cream and a dash of nutmeg. Enjoy. Repeat. 🙂
I’ve also used this basic recipe to make a pumpkin spice smoothie. All you do is swap out the coffee for the milk of your choice and add a frozen banana or a fresh banana and some ice. While it’s healthy as is, I also like to add an extra spoonful of pumpkin to up the vitamin content, as well as some chia or flax seeds. You could easily leave those out, though.
With just a few simple ingredients, you can make a yummy pumpkin spice latte inexpensively at home. I've included variations for a chai latte and smoothie, too! The recipe serves one or two, depending on how much coffee you drink. 😉
2-3Tablespoons Milk of choice.I usually use almond milk.
1/3-1/5Teaspoonground cinnamon
1/4Teaspoonground ginger
1/8Teaspoonground cloves
1/8Teaspoon ground allspice
1/8Teaspoonground nutmeg
1/8Teaspoonground tumeric (optional)
Maple syrup, sugar or honey to taste.
Whipped Cream (optional)
Instructions
Blend all ingredients together.
Top with whipped cream and a dash of nutmeg. I like the non-dairy Reddi-Wip
Enjoy.
Notes
I’ve also used this basic recipe to make a pumpkin spice smoothie. Just swap the coffee or tea for the milk of your choice and add a frozen banana or fresh banana and ice. Blend thoroughly. While it’s healthy as-is, I like to add an extra spoonful of pumpkin to up the vitamin content, as well as some chia or flax seeds. You can easily leave those out, though.
What’s your favorite way to enjoy pumpkin spice? If pumpkin spice isn’t your thing, what’s your preferred fall drink or scent? Please share it in the comments.
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Hi! There’s a free ebook today in my Freebooksy email that I thought might interest my readers. I haven’t read it yet, but I wanted to share before it’s no longer free. The title is Medicinal Herbs: The Essential Guide to Growing and Using Plants to Promote Healing and Physical Well-Being by Halle Malin. You can get it here: https://amzn.to/3RX2qBj (Note: If you use that link and then make a purchase, I will get a small commission. This is at no extra cost to you and helps me to maintain this blog. Thanks!)
Be sure to grab it ASAP. I’m not sure how long it will be free. If you read it, let me know what you think in the comments.
Growing up, I was Belle from the Disney version of Beauty and the Beast. I always had at least one book with me at all times. Most of the time, I was actively reading one of them, regardless of what else I was doing. Surprisingly, I am no more clumsy with my nose in a book than I am fully paying attention to what I’m doing, which is to say, I’m always very clumsy.
Anyway, one of the things I love about technology is that I can bring a library’s worth of books with me everywhere in my pocket. Or purse, really, since women’s clothing doesn’t have real pockets. Don’t get me wrong. I still love my hold-in-your-hand print books with their special book smell and feel. Knowing that I will always have a book or hundred at hand to read anywhere, though, is the best for a nerd like me.
The other cool thing about ebooks is that it is easy to get a whole library for free or cheap. Here are a few of my favorite resources.
Libraries
Did you know that most libraries now have a collection of ebooks and magazines to check out. My local library uses OverDrive to check out ebooks. All you need is a library card. I usually choose Kindle format, since I have an ancient Paperwhite and I use the Kindle app on my phone.
If you’re looking for a specific book or new releases, this is your best bet. You may have to wait a bit because there’s a limited number of digital copies to check out, just like books in a library.
Yes, you can get free ebooks on Amazon. You’ll need a basic (free) Amazon account and the Kindle app, or you can read on a pc. The link above will take you to the Kindle ebook store where I’ve searched for free ebooks. That gives you about a bajillion results to weed through. You can narrow down your search to, something like, “free kindle classic books literature” or “free kindle Sherlock Holmes books” or “free kindle sewing books” and have fewer results to sort through.
If you happen to have a Prime account, there’s some ebook perks with Prime Reading and First Reads, so make sure you check those out, too.
Quick note: I am an Amazon Associate, so if you click on an Amazon link on my blog and then make a purchase on Amazon, I will receive a tiny commission. The price for you is the same either way, so if you are going to be shopping on Amazon anyway, I would appreciate it.
My Paperwhite ebook reader is this old. Photo by Caio on Pexels.com
Free Booksy
Free Booksy basically lets you know about free books in your chosen genres in a daily email. They’re books that are free for a limited time, so not the same things you would find in a free Amazon search. Most days there’s at least one book I want in the email. Right now, I tend to read more nonfiction, however if you like reading fiction series, Free Booksy often has the first in a new series for free, so it’s a great way to discover new authors. Sign up here. I’m not an affiliate, I just love the free books.
eBook Bundles
Occasionally you’ll find free or cheap ebook bundles online based on a theme, such as crafting or health and wellness. Ultimate Bundles is one site that offers them regularly. I’ve purchased bundles from them in the past that were very useful. Usually it’s something like $27 for hundreds of dollars worth of ebooks, courses, printables, etc. When I purchase one, I always make sure that there are at least three ebooks/resources included that I would purchase on their own, no question, AND they would cost me more than the total price of the bundle if purchased separately.
It doesn’t currently look like they’re promoting a bundle right now, but you can check out the website and see if what types of bundles they offer are of interest to you.
These are all resources I’ve personally used for free ebooks. I’m sure there’s plenty more out there. If you know of any, please share them in the comments. 🙂
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I’ve listed two “new” vintage fabrics in the shop, but wondering if anyone can help with giving more information about them. I love second hand materials, but not having all the details is a bit frustrating. They are:
I’ve burn tested them, and they tend to burn quickly. The burned edge seems more melted than ashy, which leads me to believe they are a synthetic or a synthetic blend. Here’s a video of the beige burn test:
Burn testing some vintage fabric. I think this one is a synthetic or synthetic blend. I’m listing some of my fabric stash at https://subearthancottage.com #sewing#vintagefabric#fabricdestash
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