We have had rain every day this week, which is a good thing. My physical therapy and knee are doing well, although my blood sugar has been low a few times this week.
This week I received a refund on a can opener I bought in the last year as I made a complaint to the company for how hard it was to open a number ten can. I also earned an Amazon Associates payout of $10, scanned my receipts into Fetch, listed one item for sale on eBay, and hung some of my laundry up to dry.
My car has been in the shop this week, so I took advantage of a deal from my insurance company that will pay for transportation for me to go back and forth to my physical therapy appointmentsat no cost to me. My first ride was on Wednesday and was so pleasant that I could easily get used to that.
One way to have a successful frugal life is by working hard at home. Staying home allows you to have the time to do that work. It’s possible to live well on less, even when we’re surrounded daily by consumerism and influencers pedaling us towards the latest must-haves. With a bit of mindfulness and some practical tips, you can be on your way to a more frugal, fulfilling life. A great deal of financial security comes from this type of hard work.
Smart spending doesn’t mean cutting spending entirely. Rather, it’s about making intelligent and informed decisions about where your money goes. Switching to a cheaper grocery store, comparing prices, reducing dining out, or eliminating unnecessary subscriptions can save money in the long run. Before making a purchase, ask yourself whether it’s something you actually need or is it something you simply want.
What I've been Reading This Week
Why is Walmart's Great Value Brand in Land O Lakes butter boxes? People have speculated for years that Land O’ Lakes may be the supplier for Walmart’s private-labeled Great Value butter sticks. Rachael (@rachaelishere) shows that inside a box of Land O’ Lakes butter sticks purchased from Walmart, their wrappers have Great Value branding. Just more evidence that many store brands are actually name brands in disguise.
I'm so happy my girls watch the so called influencers more as pop culture interest and not as consumers. They both ( other than my youngest book hoarding habit) are not mass consumers, try to live ethical, conservationist, green lives. I'm trying to be more like them.
Sounds like a good week! I'm glad that your knee is doing well, but I'm sorry your blood sugar has been low. Hope you will feel better. I'm glad that insurance has provided a way to pt appointments. We went on a scenic drive to see our dil in a murder mystery play last weekend, and I told my husband that he was driving Miss Kathy. :D It's nice not to drive and be able to enjoy the scenery. Good advice on saving money. I think that I will go to Food City today since they have a coupon where if you can get $15 off a $50 gift card. I figure if I can do the promotion each month, I will save money on gifts for Christmas. Hope you have a great weekend.
Thank you, Kathy. Driving Miss Kathy, I like that! 😂 The murder mystery play sounds interesting. I’ve always wanted to go to one of those. I need to check out that Food City deal on gift cards. Thank you for letting me know about it. I hope you have a great weekend!
It's really hard to get out of the consumer mindset, but so worth it. I am certainly not as disciplined as some people, but I'm focused on mindful purchasing - things that are a priority, and that I will value, vs impulse purchases. So glad your knee is healing! - Hawaii Planner
One day I had a box of Aldi battered fish and a box of Mrs. Paul's side by side and the product was exactly the same. Land O Lakes butter is our favorite. There have been so many great sales on it starting at Christmas time that our freezer space for it is full and then some. I have paid 2.98 a pound which is less that Walmart Great Value I believe. But we rarely go to Walmart so I am not sure.
My brother was a transmission rebuilder for many years and he always says to change the transmission fluid every 60K miles so we did that this week.
I had some expensive yellow fin tuna on the shelf that we had gotten free with clearance sale and iBotta. It had herbs in the jar so I had kept passing over it but decided now was the time to use it. Three jars made a nice bowl of tuna salad which did not taste like our usual but it was okay. I have three more jars to use up. The jars are wonderful to save for other things too. Nice jars are always a super bonus to me. This morning I opened a big bag of Craisins from Sam's and we vacuum sealed them into six tall jelly jars. I do not eat them fast enough and they dry out otherwise.
The butter at Walmart is always $3.99 here and doesn’t go on sale, unfortunately. That is good to know abounthenAldi and Ames. Paul’s fish. That would be delicious right now. The yellow fin tuna sounds good too. Good job on changing the transmission Fluid, it is so important to stay on top of those things.
Interesting about the butter ! I use a lot of great value brands. Things are still crazy around here with lots of projects going on. I’ll be happy when it’s all done and we can enjoy “just being” around here again.
I thought so too, Penny. We also use a lot of the Great Value items as it definitely saves us money. I know what you mean about being happy when all of that is done. I feel that way about certain projects too.
I'm so happy my girls watch the so called influencers more as pop culture interest and not as consumers. They both ( other than my youngest book hoarding habit) are not mass consumers, try to live ethical, conservationist, green lives. I'm trying to be more like them.
ReplyDeleteI love it! That is the kind of lifestyle we strive for as well.
DeleteSounds like a good week! I'm glad that your knee is doing well, but I'm sorry your blood sugar has been low. Hope you will feel better.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that insurance has provided a way to pt appointments. We went on a scenic drive to see our dil in a murder mystery play last weekend, and I told my husband that he was driving Miss Kathy. :D It's nice not to drive and be able to enjoy the scenery.
Good advice on saving money. I think that I will go to Food City today since they have a coupon where if you can get $15 off a $50 gift card. I figure if I can do the promotion each month, I will save money on gifts for Christmas.
Hope you have a great weekend.
Thank you, Kathy. Driving Miss Kathy, I like that! 😂 The murder mystery play sounds interesting. I’ve always wanted to go to one of those. I need to check out that Food City deal on gift cards. Thank you for letting me know about it. I hope you have a great weekend!
DeleteGreat post and wise words. So many people think frugal is about doing without - to me it is just doing well with what you have and being mindful.
ReplyDeleteIt sure is, Cheryl. You are a great example of the frugal lifestyle.
DeleteIt's really hard to get out of the consumer mindset, but so worth it. I am certainly not as disciplined as some people, but I'm focused on mindful purchasing - things that are a priority, and that I will value, vs impulse purchases. So glad your knee is healing! - Hawaii Planner
ReplyDeleteThank you so much!
DeleteOne day I had a box of Aldi battered fish and a box of Mrs. Paul's side by side and the product was exactly the same. Land O Lakes butter is our favorite. There have been so many great sales on it starting at Christmas time that our freezer space for it is full and then some. I have paid 2.98 a pound which is less that Walmart Great Value I believe. But we rarely go to Walmart so I am not sure.
ReplyDeleteMy brother was a transmission rebuilder for many years and he always says to change the transmission fluid every 60K miles so we did that this week.
I had some expensive yellow fin tuna on the shelf that we had gotten free with clearance sale and iBotta. It had herbs in the jar so I had kept passing over it but decided now was the time to use it. Three jars made a nice bowl of tuna salad which did not taste like our usual but it was okay. I have three more jars to use up. The jars are wonderful to save for other things too. Nice jars are always a super bonus to me. This morning I opened a big bag of Craisins from Sam's and we vacuum sealed them into six tall jelly jars. I do not eat them fast enough and they dry out otherwise.
The butter at Walmart is always $3.99 here and doesn’t go on sale, unfortunately. That is good to know abounthenAldi and Ames. Paul’s fish. That would be delicious right now. The yellow fin tuna sounds good too. Good job on changing the transmission Fluid, it is so important to stay on top of those things.
DeleteThe above comment was mine.
ReplyDeleteThank you for letting me know, Lana. 😊
DeleteGood for you on all that savings, it inspires me!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kim.
DeleteI have even heard that many Costco brands are made by brand name companies. You had a very good week.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Thank you, Jackie. That is neat about Costco.
DeleteInteresting about the butter ! I use a lot of great value brands. Things are still crazy around here with lots of projects going on. I’ll be happy when it’s all done and we can enjoy “just being” around here again.
ReplyDeleteI thought so too, Penny. We also use a lot of the Great Value items as it definitely saves us money. I know what you mean about being happy when all of that is done. I feel that way about certain projects too.
Delete