Consumer Reports is relaunching their free 1940s newsletter, Bread & Butter, which was first published in 1941 to help cash-strapped Americans make smart decisions with limited resources. I even found a vintage issue from 1941 that you can read for free online here.
Another place to get free ebooks is Free Booksy.
As Thanksgiving arrives, I find myself reflecting on the people who add meaning, encouragement, and connection to my life, and that includes you. Whether you’ve been reading my posts for years or you’ve just recently found your way here, I’m truly grateful for your presence.
Our area of blogging has grown into a space where we share ideas, stories, challenges, and victories. Your comments, your messages, and even your silent visits mean more to me than you may realize. You remind me that none of us are navigating life alone but rather learning and growing together.
Thanksgiving is all about taking a moment to appreciate what we often rush past, and today I want to pause and say thank you. Thank you for showing up. Thank you for reading. Thank you for supporting my work and allowing me to share a piece of my life with you.
I hope this season brings you warmth, rest, good food, and the company of people who make your heart feel full. No matter how you celebrate, or even if you don’t celebrate, please know that I’m grateful for you.
Happy Thanksgiving, friends.
Now I will leave you with this funny meme. 😂
In this YouTube video Ramit Sethi poses the question, "why is it that Boomers were able to buy houses on a single income, but for young people, even saving for a down payment feels impossible?”
He says that Boomers built wealth in a system that no longer exists and claims that the worst part is, after they benefited from it, they changed the rules to make sure that other people couldn't do the same thing.
Ramit says as soon as they bought houses, they rigged local city councils and local governments to make it literally impossible to build more houses, which limited supply. And we know that limited supply plus higher demand equals higher prices.
I spent some time straightening up my kitchen cabinets, putting like items together. I usually organize things as I put groceries away, but items still get misplaced from time to time and need to be tidied up again. While I was reorganizing, I noticed several ingredients that sparked ideas for a few meals I could make using what I already have.
It reminded me of a tuna noodle casserole my friend’s mom used to make when I was a teenager. I made it often back then, and today I realized I have everything I need to make it and can use either tuna or chicken, since I have both in my pantry. That gives us another easy, budget friendly meal using what’s already on hand.
Freedom comes from owing nothing.
I found a beautiful Proverbs 31 mug with a lid at a yard sale this summer. It’s the perfect hostess gift for a family member.
I once read before about a family with a modest income that spent hundreds of dollars on Christmas gifts. Not long after they struggled financially because they did not expect car repair bills or an extra high heating bill. They got into trouble because they lived above their standard of living.
Setting limits on gifts will help keep funds available for our needs and those unplanned expenses that come up in life.
These days, many people have embraced a lifestyle built around convenience—and it can get expensive if we’re not careful. How often do we spend money on DoorDash, Uber Eats, or meal delivery services even when we have food at home we could cook? These small conveniences add up quickly, and the fees alone could buy extra groceries for our households.
We live in a time when convenience often wins, even though we could benefit from some of the old ways. Grocery stores don’t care about your budget; they simply want you to buy more, more, and more. That’s why this is a good moment to think differently—to look at what’s already in your pantry, recognize the possibilities, and make them happen.
At the end of the day, we are the ones who must live with the choices we make. Overspending in one category means taking money from another. But frugality doesn’t have to feel like sacrifice. It’s really about resourcefulness and mindset. The lesson isn’t about cutting corners—it’s about stretching what you have. Instead of complaining about high prices, we can learn to adapt.
Back in my grandmother’s day, everything was stretched using old-fashioned wisdom born out of necessity. Nothing went to waste. Leftover roast became soup or stew. Fabric scraps became quilts. Jars were washed and reused again and again.
Let’s bring back that frugal spirit of previous generations—people who lived through hard times when every resource mattered. That mindset built a resilience that’s rare today.
Instead of wasting energy complaining about what we can’t control, let’s focus on what we can do. Sometimes it’s not about what we can afford, but about knowing when to say no.
Welcome
Welcome to Frugal Workshop where I post on Mondays about how we saved on food during the last week along with what we’ve had for dinner that week.
My Frugal Week
