Second Frugal Friday of July 2026
Each Friday here at Frugal Workshop, I love sharing the frugal wins, quiet savings, and simple strategies that helped us stretch our budget over the past seven days. It’s a gentle look back at the small things that make a big difference.
My Frugal Week
When I was giving away Dad’s soda pop bottles a few weeks ago I kept a few back because I knew they were worth something to someone. This week I sold one on Facebook Marketplace for $20, which is pretty good in my book for something that was just sitting around in an old shed collecting dust.
I scanned all of my receipts into Fetch and NCP. I received an email from Walmart to renew my Walmart Plus membership at 50% off after cancelling it last month when they wanted me to renew it at full price ($98). I was hoping they would offer this to me and they did. Score!
I also received an email from Triple AAA to renew one year of membership for half price so I took advantage of that this week too. We’ve had this membership for many years now and have used them multiple times, so it’s definitely an expense worth keeping.
We spent the 4th of July at the Cook Family 4th of July Fireworks Show & Farm. We had the best time socializing with friends, eating dinner together and then a very elaborate fireworks show.
On Monday we had another clean out downstairs. We took another load of metal to the recycling center (1200 pounds!), and threw out about half a trailer full of garbage/stuff.
In this photo you can see the pickup truck bed full of metal and the back half of the trailer full of metal. The first half of the trailer are items I tossed.
I was of the mindset that if we’re going to have to move, I want to move as little as possible, so I threw out a great deal that I’d been hanging onto, some for sentimental reasons.
On Tuesday I had a tutoring session, went to the farmers market for fresh produce, and met with a realtor about our home. More details to come on that later.
I had a repairman come out on Monday and Wednesday to fix the drainage hose on our washing machine as the force of the water was making it leak. It’s all good to go now though.
I've been watching money saving YouTube videos including Prepper Princess and Frugal Queen this week to help tweak my budget where I can.
We woke up on Thursday to no power in the house, which was so quiet with none of the window air conditioners running. The electric company crew came by to check our line as they were trying to figure out where the issue was. It was off for about four hours.
I'm glad the power came back on for my tutoring session Thursday afternoon. Two weeks ago right in the middle of our session the power went off and I wouldn't care for a repeat of that.
I emptied this plastic bag of toilet paper rolls, but kept the bag to reuse as a garbage bag soon.
Yard Sale Saturday
No yard sales on July 4th due to the holiday.
Freebies
I went by People Helping People on Tuesday and picked up some free green beans, which I broke/snapped and cooked and we ate on Wednesday and Thursday. They were so good and fresh. I also picked up more free zucchini and yellow squash.
Saving on Electric
I've been keeping the air conditioner in my bedroom at 72 degrees when I do have it on along with a fan as needed. Raising the temperature just a couple of degrees in the summer time helps us to save money on our electric bill.
Photo of the Week
Here are before and after photos of our cat Ginger who we had shaved last week.
Its very obvious that he feels better as he is jumping up onto things where he wasn't before. It's hard to tell from the photo above, but he had a large matted area along his backbone, which is gone now and he seems happier for it.
Saving Money on Entertainment
We've been rewatching the Toy Story movies in our quest to see Toy Story 5 hopefully this coming Tuesday at the theater on $5 Tuesday.
My Reading Nook ~ What I've been Reading This Week
I've been reading more than usual this summer and this week I’m rereading a book I read last year on boundaries. I also went to the library and claimed my second freebie for reading three more books, which was a magnetic note pad.
How was your week?
Thank you for dropping by my frugal blog, you are always welcome here.
We would love to hear all about your week in the comment section.
Belinda 🫶 💕 Homemaker at Heart 💕 ~ Living within our Means ~My Linktree
~ She looketh well to the ways of her household ~Proverbs 31:27
I'm glad your power came back on in this heat...I do love the quiet though when there are no fans or air conditioners going. You are working hard on Dad's stuff..and making money for doing it. You can't beat that! Have a wonderful weekend.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Vickie. I hope you have a wonderful weekend too.
Deletewhat a difference fur makes! Sweet kitty.
ReplyDeleteI hate that you are having to sell your place - but hope you are excited about new adventures.
I would be freezing if my AC was on 72! Mine is set much higher and I stay very comfortable.
Thank you, Cheryl. I'm putting the decision about the house in God's hands. We are speaking with a attorney on Tuesday, so may have more clarity then. And yes, I think 72 can be cold too, so I don't keep it on all the time, just to cool it off and then I turn it off for a while. Bailey has her room cold though and has it set somewhere in the 60s, which would freeze me. LOL
DeleteI got to the library yesterday for the family book club book for the month. I just have not read as much as I thought I would this summer. $20 ,for essentially clutter is a good win.
ReplyDelete$20 is definitely a good win in my book too, Sam.
DeleteDear Belinda, Ginger is a gorgeous cat! Please give him a hug for me. You did great making $20 on Facebook Marketplace! Fantastic!
ReplyDeleteMy week has been okay, it is still pretty hot and humid here in Montreal, and the rain we got yesterday did nothing to give any relief. What the weather experts are saying is that there is a heat dome in the U.S., which is causing these temperatures here.
What I do is keep my "sun block out" (not sure this is the correct term for them) curtains closed during the day and only have the air conditioner on when I am at home. And even when I am at home, I just put it on from 4 p.m., because the apartment stays cooler due to the fact that I keep the curtains closed during the day. It still gets hot, but not as hot as when the curtains are open.
I have a free standing air conditioner so I have a bucket that catches the water from a thin tube. I empty the bucket every two to three hours depending on how much water gets in it, of course. And I do not keep it on at night when I am sleeping. However, since it is on in the evenings for a good few hours, it has had a chance to cool the apartment down enough that I can sleep without using it. I still keep a fan in the bedroom, though. My air conditioner is in the living room.
Thank you so much for sharing, dear friend, and I hope you, Bailey and Ginger have a lovely weekend!
Thank you, Linda. We love our Gingerbread Man (Ginger's nickname). I feel for you as the rain does not relieve the intense humidity here either. That is great to keep your sun block curtains out. Every little bit you can get some shade sure does help with the heat. We hope you have a lovely weekend too!
DeleteAww I bet Ginger feels better. Pretty kitty!
ReplyDeleteYou have had a busy week! Wow on the 1200 pounds of metal, that is impressive!! I have a hard time with sentimental things, and I think you have a great mindset so you won't have to move as much stuff. Hope you have a fun weekend.
Ginger feels so much better, Kathy. It's such a change like night and day. I hope you all have a fun weekend too!
DeleteI have been trying so hard to eat down my pantry and I think it is working, but now I need to tackle the freezer.
ReplyDeleteGood job, Kim. I love getting my freezer cleaned out and organized and using up all the odds and ends.
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