Second Frugal Friday of December 2025

Welcome to Frugal Friday!
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
Last Friday we went to People Helping People's bag sale where you fill a large gallon kitchen trash bag for $15.00. I found several useful items such as homemade flannel burp cloths, but I’ll be using them as flannel hankies instead. I made myself some years ago using an old flannel sheet, but many of them have disappeared over the years and these burp clothes are a good size. 
On Saturday we went to an estate sale where I found a new to me crockpot for $8.00. The one I have has handles that clamp down the lid, but they seriously get in my way, so I replaced it and set my old one aside in our consignment sale pile. I also found a very useful glass storage jar for $2.00. 
One of the students I tutor wants to read the Harry Potter series of books. We were able to find two of them at the estate sale for $1.00 each. Now she will be able to annotate in the book with no worries about “wrecking” a good book. 
On Sunday we went to a clothing exchange where you bring a Walmart bag full of clean clothes and exchange them for ones that fit. I had no problem filling a Walmart bag with clothes as I buy them second hand, bring them home to try on, and what I don’t like donate to People Helping People. It’s an inexpensive way to fill my wardrobe with clothes I love wearing and I get some really unique pieces this way. 
I went to McKay Used Books this week and traded. I was looking for The Magic Treehouse books for another student I tutor. I was able to find several copies as the shelf was full with this series. I ended up with four books at $2.50 each, earned over $8 in trade credit and only had to pay $1.26 in cash. 
I went to the Samaritan Center on Monday and found myself a pair of Dr. Martens boots! I have always wanted a pair and the best part is I only paid $20 for these even though they retail for $180.
The FedEx delivery driver wasn’t paying attention and ran over a stump at the edge of the driveway on Wednesday, so I spent about an hour with him looking for tools to McGyver his way out of here. He finally made it out with his exhaust pipe tied to the frame of his truck and still had deliveries to make. 
Freebies
Our library has a free exchange section where you can drop off items you no longer need and pick up anything you can use, all for free. I took the students I tutor to the library this week and saw three mason jars in the exchange, so I picked those up after dropping off my egg cartons there. 
Upstairs at the library they also have a little free pantry, which includes food, clothing,  household items like dishwashing and laundry detergent, and feminine products, all free for anyone in need. 
One of the students I tutor wants to read The Magic Treehouse series of books. We stopped at a Little Free Library when I was taking them home and there was one of them in there! I think that was meant to be. 
Saving on Electric
This week I put plastic over my bedroom windows. And on Thursday I turned the heat on in my bedroom after it was 55 degrees in there. Brrrr
Saving Money on Entertainment
On Tuesday we went to Bargain Day at UEC Theater to see the second version of Wicked. In anticipation of this, we watched the first Wicked movie on Sunday and finished on Monday evening. Tickets on bargain Tuesday have risen to $6 each, but that is still a bargain, plus you get a free small popcorn. 
How was your week? Are those of you who celebrate Christmas busy getting ready for the big day? I’m getting there myself and enjoying the process at my own pace. Thank you for stopping by and I hope you have a wonderful weekend. 

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