First Frugal Friday of June 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
Bailey had a sweater she wanted to sell, but it was missing four buttons on the left shoulder. No worries though, she had four buttons to replace them, so I sewed those on for her and now the item is listed for sale.
On Tuesday I dropped my car off to get new tires and they found the rack and pinion steering system was leaking and damaged, so I pulled money from savings to pay for that. They let me use one of their courtesy cars, a Ford Eccosport, in the interim. It was fun to drive a different car for two days.
I stopped in at Great Clips for a haircut, now priced at $22 (yikes!). She charged me for a senior haircut, which is for people 65 and older and cost only $13.99. I’m not even 60 yet, but will gladly take a senior discount. My silver hair may have helped. lol I made sure to tip her generously.
Later that evening we went to Kroger and UGO in NW Georgia for our monthly run to stock up on groceries.
On Thursday I gathered all my receipts from the day before and reconciled my checking account and paid all the bills for the month.
Price of Gas
Gas has been fluctuating here this week and was $3.99 at one point. I used my fuel rewards from Food City and filled up there on Wednesday for $3.60 a gallon. I did see it cheaper than that as we were driving around in Chattanooga and NW Georgia this week.
$201.68 is the amount I spent on gas for my car in May 2026. Ouch. I've not spent that much in gas in one month before, but we do live rurally and have to drive a ways to get anywhere. So, when the price of gas goes up we spend more than usual like everyone else.
And this was with me curtailing my driving and not going to yard sales every weekend. Normally I do all the driving at yard sales, but Bailey drove her car once or twice in May and I still spent this much.
Even when I was subbing and driving everyday I would only spend around $150 per month. So, I’ve really felt the pinch in my budget this month due to the increase in the price of gas.
Yard Sale Saturday
We did go to a few yard sales last Saturday even though the overnight rain had some people not set up their yard sales. There was at least one church yard sale indoors we wanted to attend. I came home with a Winnie-the-Pooh hoodie, a produce container for the fridge, and some reusable bags.
Freebies
I picked up five free cookbooks from the Little Free Library located at People Helping People on Monday.
Health Updates
My doctor's office called about my osteoporosis results and wanted me to do the infusions, but I said no, as I did one in 2024 and it was too hard on me. So, she suggested Prolia, which is supposed to help strengthen and protect your bones from fractures, but the side effects look rough. Have you ever used this drug?
Savings of the Week
UGO had Great Value Greek yogurt for $2.00 a quart, which Walmart sells for $3.28, so a savings of $1.28, so I bought three of them to last the month. It’s been rare for me to find Great Value products at UGO, so this was a nice surprise.
Saving Money on Entertainment
Bailey and I had a game night on Thursday and played several of our favorite game boards.
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
Sounds like a good week! I haven't heard of that medicine, but I need to go on a new lupus infusion & I'm also disappointed to have to do that. I hope you are able to find something that works for you, with minimal side effects. - Hawaii Planner
ReplyDeleteThank you. My heart goes out to you as those infusions can be tough.
DeleteBelinda
I tried one of the drugs but can’t remember the name. It was really hard on my stomach so i couldn’t continue. Then, i went to the infusion. That was great on my body and i had two in two or three years. My bones are never going to get better so i’m just hoping to maintain. Lots of walking and lots of protein/calcium.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Debbie. I’m glad the infusions worked for you. Walking and protein and calcium are really supposed to help. I hope you not only maintain, but also see improvement.
DeleteBelinda
A friend and her daughter work for Great Clips and have been instructed to no ask for proof of age. The customer either self identifies or "we have to guess." Being the same age as us with grey hair my friend guesses pretty accurately. Her daughtrer says she is not getting yelled at anymore and starts with the regular price (because apparently a number of ladies are offended,) and changes it if they ask about it. What a pain.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a pain, Amy. I’ll gladly take any discount they offer. lol
DeleteDear Belinda, I am not familiar with the medication you mentioned. I went for a bone density scan a few weeks ago and the results were not favourable. :( I got a call telling me that my bones are "kind of" thin. I will be 70 in October, so I guess this shouldn't surprise me.
ReplyDeleteAt any rate, I am still waiting for an appointment with a gastroenterologist (on a waiting list) in reference to my difficulty swallowing and the chronic cough. The doctor wants to wait and see what avenue the gastroenterologist will take when he or she sees me and discovers the reason for these throat issues.
I may possibly have to go on medication once a week in order to help strengthen my bones. I mean, right now, if I fall or injure myself (which I pray doesn't happen), I am at a higher risk for breaking something. Anyway, just wanted to mention this, I hope you don't mind, and I would really appreciate your prayers.
I will keep you in my prayers for good health as well, both yourself and Bailey!
It looks like you and Bailey are doing great on economizing! She selling a sweater, you finding freebies and good savings on a haircut and some food! You are both amazing, I so enjoy reading your posts to see what you are both doing....as well as HOW you are doing, so I really appreciate all you share here, dear friend.
And as far as the osteoporosis goes, dear Belinda, I think you did the right thing in passing on the infusions. I also agree with you on before agreeing to take any medication to check on what the possible side effects can be!
I am sending you much love and hugs...both yourself and Bailey.
I hope you both have a wonder filled weekend! God bless you.
You always make my day with your posts, Linda. Thank you so much, you are so sweet! I’ll be praying for you too!
DeleteBelinda
Talk to a holistic health physician.
ReplyDeleteDoctors go right to handfuls of pills.
Vitamin D helps absorb calcium you need for bone health.
But you need to be getting enough calcium too.
We can't all tolerate the side effects
from some of these medications.
It's worth it to just have a talk with
a holistic doctor to see if he has a natural approach that can help.
This is great advice, thank you so much!
DeleteBelinda
Sorry about the car repair expenses. Seems like everything is more expensive these days esp gas. Great finds at the yard sale, and I bet the Pooh hoodie is so cute! I'm sorry about the osteoporosis; I have heard the infusions are rough, but I don't know anything about prolia. I'm taking fosamax pills now, but I don't know if it is helping. My sil had a 9% improvement in bone density, and she is taking calcigen so I may check into that at some point.
ReplyDeleteHope you have a good weekend.
Thank you, Kathy. I’ll look into the calcite noon, thank you for the tip.
DeleteBelinda
I'm not help on the medication. I hope uou can find what will help. Gas, groceries, life in general is pricey but I'm like you...careful where I can be with money, but try to have fun as well. Tonight will be a levtover beer from last weekend, and a sit outside with the dog before the rain comes in.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sam. Your evening sounds like a good one to me.
DeleteI like having fun too, yard sales are where it’s at for me. Tee Hee
Belinda
Sounds like a decent week except the car repair. Glad you had the funds. I know nothing about meds like that, I agree w/annony. above - talk to someone holistic.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Cheryl. That is a great idea.
DeletePetrol is going up everywhere, isn't it. It seems to have stabilised round here at the moment, thankfully, but with everything else going up so quickly too, the budget is taking a bashing. xx
ReplyDeleteI haven't used that drug for my osteoporosis, but did use a bone building one for 5 years the longest you are supposed to take them for. I am on a Calcium and D program though and will not go off that one.
ReplyDeleteYou got some great deals. Gas is crazy and we are being told it will go even higher.
God bless.