Friday, May 22, 2026

Fourth Frugal Friday of May 2026


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. 

Making good use of our resources, making do and being content with what we have, hanging up laundry to dry, planning meals in our own kitchen, none of these things are huge on their own. But together, they can make a big difference. These small, steady, thoughtful habits help us fight inflation, stretch our budget, live well, spend less, and stay debt free, which is the frugal way we live our lives. 


My Frugal Week

This week on Monday I went for my two year DEXA scan to check the status of my osteoporosis. My left femur stayed the same since my last scan two years ago while my right femur increased from -2.1 to -4.3, which represents a severe and significant progression from mildly low bone mass (osteopenia) to severe osteoporosis. 

On Monday evening UPS brought me a package, which turned out to be a new box of Advantage to replace the one I bought that was dried out. I also received a coupon for a free Eden product to replace the can of beans that went bad in our pantry. 

The Great Cleanup

On Wednesday I went downstairs to fill a contractor bag with trash since it was garbage day. This is an easier way for me to declutter the downstairs without spending all day going back and forth in my car to the convenience center to haul off trash. Both ways work for me, but it depends on how I’m feeling that day. 

There are two filing cabinets in the office that I cleaned out last year. On Wednesday I took a photo of them and listed them for free on Facebook Marketplace and those are both gone now. 

I realized there are more cabinets lining the ceiling that have stuff in them. ::sigh:: From my view on the ground it looks like there is much less stuff in those cabinets since they weren’t easily accessible. I will have to use a very tall ladder to clean them out if I do.

My brother and sister still want this house sold and are now willing to let everything downstairs sell with the house. I’m not there yet, but we may be selling and buying another home sooner rather than later to get out of this one with my brother and sister. I’ll keep you updated. 

Yard Sale Saturday

Some of the items I picked up at yard sales last week include a Chicago Hoodie $1.00, 


7 Pioneer Woman dish towels 50 cents each, 5 washcloths $1.00, and several cleaning 
supplies from an estate sale including Clean Freak, Nature’s Miracle, and a carpet cleaner. 

Freebies


This isn't the best photo but does show the ice cream and flowers I picked up from Publix for my birthday freebies on Monday. I picked up the cherry ice cream, which is delicious. 

Savings of the Week

This week I took advantage of a birthday gift from Bealls for 20% off any purchase.  I buy Skinny Syrups there to flavor our drinks. I picked up one cotton candy, two orange soda, and one cherry flavored, all sugar free. 

The cotton candy and cherry flavors were ones I’ve been wanting to try for a long time. The orange soda is one of Bailey’s favorite flavors, which is why I got two of them.

When I went to check out, I had a $5 reward on my account and was able to use both discounts, so I ended up only paying $12.78 for the four bottles. These are $7.99 each on the Skinny Syrup website, so this was a great deal. 

Turns out I LOVE the cotton candy flavor, so I’ll definitely be keeping this flavor in my pantry. 

Saving Money on Entertainment

My Netflix subscription has increased from $8.75 to $9.84 this month. I would let it go except Bailey watches it and we made a deal at the beginning of the year that she pays for Disney and Hulu and I pay for Netflix

My Reading Nook ~ What I've been Reading This Week

I’m taking a free course from the Fannie Mae website on the home buying process, reading up on osteoporosis, and reading for pleasure also. 

How was your week?
Have you done any decluttering?
Saved money? 
Gone to any yard sales?
We’d love to hear about it in the comments. 



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 ðŸ«¶ 
💕 Homemaker at Heart ðŸ’• 
~ Living within our Means ~
Frugal Workshop Linktree

~ She looketh well to the ways of her household ~
Proverbs 31:27


22 comments:

  1. I'm sorry about the bone scan results. That is rough, and I feel your pain. If fosamax doesn't improve my bones, I will have to try the shots which I don't really want to do. Here's hoping for strong bones for both of us. :)
    You found some great treasures at the yard sales. I love those towels, so pretty and cheerful. Love the freebies, and great deal on the syrups. Yum on the flavors.
    I'm sorry about the stress on selling the house. Sending lots of hugs and hopes that the right doors open for you.
    Have a great weekend. Looks like a rainy one.

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    1. Thank you, Kathy. I've been taking Forteo (the shots, which are not too bad) for the last two years, but don't know that it's working. I'll be glad when my doctor reads the results and lets me know what my next course of action is. I definitely need to do more strengthening exercises. And I need to be careful when I'm out in the yard to avoid any falls, so I need to find someone else to mow and weed eat for me as the terrain here is hilly and rough. Yes, I'm hoping for strong bones for both of us!
      I love the towels too, they are so pretty!
      I'm praying and have others praying about the house situation too. I've put it in God's hands and hope for the best for everyone involved.
      I hope you have a great weekend too. Any big plans for the holiday weekend? We are staying home mostly. It's raining like crazy here, so no yard sales today. Bummer. LOL

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  2. We were able to take two brown paper grocery bags full of receipts and documents to be shredded to our city's clean-up day event last weekend. Shredding is free during the clean-up event. You had a great week! How nice to get lots of fun free items for your birthday! I hope that everything will work out okay with your house.

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    1. Thank you so much, Mrs. D. That is so great that your city has a shredding event. I’d take advantage of that too.

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  3. Hi Belinda,
    The news about your bone density isn't good. However, I’m puzzled as to why the readings for your legs are so different.
    In my case, measurements are always taken on one thigh and on the lower spine.
    I receive infusions to prevent the osteoporosis from worsening further.

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    Replies
    1. I'm not sure why the readings are so different either and hope my doctor addresses that question. I tried the infusions, but they were really hard on me and I found that I had trouble walking for about three weeks afterwards, so now I take a daily shot to help with the bone density, but it's not working, so needs to be addressed.

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  4. I love a good yard sale. Happy Saturday.
    rsrue.blogspot.com

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  5. Sorry to hear the results of the bone scan. Hoping there is something you can do to help.
    Gosh, I hate you may have to move due to your siblings. That just doesn't seem right.
    Take care and stay calm.

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    1. Thank you, Cheryl. Yes, it is upsetting to me and especially Bailey, so I just put it in God's hands.
      You take care too!

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  6. I was going to ask what you to do help with the bone density issue, but I see comments above & sounds like there are treatments you can get to hopefully see improvements, so fingers crossed with that.

    Remind me about the house that your brother & sister want sold. Is it the house you are currently living in? Is it your father's house? I can't remember the details, but hope all works out well for you. - Hawaii Planner

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    1. Thank you. Yes, this was my Mom & Dad's house that we currently live in, and both of them died without a will, so I had the house put in all three (children) of our names. My siblings want the house sold, so they can get their share of the proceeds from the sale, which I totally understand.

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  7. I'm sorry about the scan results. You had some good deals on household items at the estate sale. As my son is doing a slow move , Im both purging drawers to pass on to him of excess items and will hit a few sales next weekend. A big one my daughter abd I found last is in three weekends.

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    1. Thank you, Sam. Oh, that is a great way to declutter and help your son at the same time. A win-win situation, I like that.

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  8. All in all you had a good week, except for the bone density scan (sorry)
    You always find great deals at the sales you go to.
    I know you may not want to move, but sometimes you just have to choose between digging in and the path of least resistance. Fingers crossed you find something you and Bailey will love.
    Have a great week

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    Replies
    1. Yes, I’m hoping we find a really good place for us with no stairs, ground level, not 15 acres that are hard to maintain, the list goes on and on. My mind knows it’s the right thing to do, especially for my siblings, it just hurts my heart.
      Belinda

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  9. I have severe osteoporosis and one of the things my doctor said was to walk for at least 30 minutes a day. So I do that, and probably even more. I hope you find the exact place you want to be.

    God bless.

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    1. Thank you, Jackie. I'll have to do that with the walking, thank you for the suggestion.

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  10. Dear Belinda, I am really sorry about the bone scan results. :(
    You did so well with saving money and decluttering! You are amazing!
    I have been doing a little decluttering but it is a health one! LOL! I have been going through some of my canned items and if they are high in sodium or fat I have been getting rid of them. Not good for a pre-diabetic like myself!
    Thank you so much for sharing, and I really hope you have a great weekend.
    The Blogger read is so messed up, I am sorry for my late visit to your blog!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Linda. No worries about Blogger, it does act up from time to time, unfortunately.

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  11. Those are some great freebies for your birthday! Sorry about the dexascan results...hope they find a way to help you soon. I personally love the one bag at a time and out with the trash method. You don't get overwhelmed.
    We have stuff in our backyard that needs to go...we put out the wooden raised beds that we decided we didn't want. They are now in the neighbors front yard ha ha. I'm glad they will be growing food. Have a great day.

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    1. Thank you, Vickie. I agree with the one bag trash method too. Oh, that is so neat your neighbor has the raised beds now growing their own food. I like that!

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