Tools to Frugal Success: The Power of You

The biggest tool in your frugal toolbox is YOU because you are the key to learning how to be and stay frugal and you get to decide if your frugal journey will be one you leave behind or one that has lasting success.

You are the decision maker in your life. You have the choice to make many decisions every day, both hard and easy ones. Therefore, you are the one who gets to choose whether to be frugal or not. No one can stop you, only you have that power.  

To be the best frugal you, you need a strong and powerful frugal mindset.
You need to be willing to do things differently, to go without sometimes, or wait for longer than you would prefer.

 
You need to be happy with what you have and not constantly want more.
You need to have a really positive mental attitude towards being frugal, trying out new tricks and ideas and be continually interested in maintaining this way of life. 

Sometimes it will mean going against the grain. Oftentimes frugal people do things differently, and there is nothing wrong with doing things differently. It takes courage to stand up and do things differently than others around you, but it is a price absolutely worth paying. Live your life the way you want, not the way others want you to. We each march to the beat of our own drums. 

If you don’t want debt, don’t have debt.

If you’ve decided that part of your frugal life is to live in a small house and not up-size as your income increases then do so. Being willing to do things differently, and make changes to how you do things in order to achieve your goals. Focus on doing what it takes in order to make it happen.

And that is key – be willing to do what it takes.

BelindaHomemaker at HeartMortgage & Debt Free~ Living within our Means ~My Linktree
~ She looketh well to the ways of her household ~Proverbs 31:27

Menu Plan Monday ~ Saving Money in my Frugal Kitchen Week #3 ~ February 2025

 My Frugal Week

I've been inventorying my pantry and freezer this week, and freezing some leftovers for another day.  

Bailey had an errand to run on Saturday and stopped in at Walmart to pick up milk, almond milk, cottage cheese, and turkey pepperoni. 

Recipe of the Week

This is a tried and true family favorite. I first made this in my frugal kitchen when we lived in Pikeville back in 1994 and have made it ever since that time. 

Tuna Macaroni Salad

Ingredients:

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1 small can of tuna, drained and flaked  

1 cup sliced celery  

2 cups elbow macaroni, cooked and drained  

1/4 cup chopped red pepper  

1/4 cup sliced green onions  

2 tablespoons pimientos, chopped

Salt & Pepper

Lettuce, if desired

Directions:

Mix mayonnaise and tuna together.

Add macaroni, celery, red pepper, onions, and pimiento.  

Season to taste with pepper and salt .  

Refrigerate and allow to chill. 

Serve on lettuce leaves.

 

What’s for Dinner

Monday ~ Chicken & Dressing using the last of the rotisserie chicken I made over the weekend. I was looking for soup in the freezer and found a bowl of dressing and a bowl of squash. So, I included both of those in our dinner along with some left over stir fry vegetables. It was a big hit, something out of the ordinary and used up two items from the freezer, a win-win in my book. #useitup

Movie Night Tuesday ~ Bailey had her usual pizza for movie night while I made Lentil Tacos for a meatless dinner. 

Wednesday ~ I was out running errands until late, which made dinner later than normal. So, I came in and tossed some chicken breasts in the air fryer, made some cooked apples, and steamed carrots and broccoli for dinner.

Thursday ~ I had some lasagna in the freezer, so I took that out and warmed it up in the oven. I also made some spaghetti squash with a little meat sauce to go with it and served the rest of the apples and carrots on the side. There was enough spaghetti squash with meat sauce left for several days of lunches. 

Fish on Friday ~ No fish today, but rather BBQ pork ribs, which made the whole house smell delicious. I served them with baked sweet potatoes and steamed broccoli. 

Saturday ~ And there were enough ribs left from Friday to have them for dinner again. I served them with the last of the broccoli and butter beans. 

Sunday ~ Egg Roll in a Bowl using turkey sausage and cabbage, along with pinto beans, which I soaked overnight and cooked in my Instant Pot on Sunday. I also had toppings of red onions and tomatoes and served Brussel sprouts as the vegetable. 

I carefully removed eight outer cabbage leaves for a dish later this week and then chopped the rest of the cabbage for dinner. 

What’s on the Menu for This Coming Week

We will be serving at least one meatless meal this week to save money on meat. Right now I am thinking of making the lentil loaf filling and making cabbage rolls with it. 

Other ideas include baked potato bar and chili tacos for now. Since our portions are smaller these days, I find that I don't need to always plan for a different meal each day as we do have leftovers regularly.   

What’s been on the menu in your home this past week?

Belinda

Homemaker at Heart

Mortgage & Debt Free~ Living within our Means ~My Linktree
~ She looketh well to the ways of her household ~Proverbs 31:27

Second Frugal Friday of February 2025

Welcome to Frugal Friday! 
My Frugal Week
The Occupational Therapist that came last Wednesday asked about Bailey's office area. Turns out she had two bags of clothes in her car that she was going to donate, but she gave them to Bailey instead. Inside was a North Face jacket, which was so generous of her to give to Bailey. 

Sesame Street “In your Neighborhood”

Saturday turned out to be a see the neighbors kind of day. Our neighbor next to us messaged me this week about Dad's property. I mentioned there was a tree on the property line about to fall, so he and his wife came over with their twins to look at it and visit. Later that day when I went to check the mail, our neighbor on the other side was waiting for a tow truck. I stopped to ask him if I could help and we also had a nice visit. 
Knee Update (Skip if uninterested ~ no worries) 
Last Friday I saw the orthopedic surgeon. He is very happy with my right knee, so we will proceed with the left knee. His scheduler will call me and set it up soon. 
This is his report on my left knee:

Four views of the left knee show severe tricompartmental varus DJD with hypertrophic osteophytes and cystic changes diffusely.  Osteopenia appreciated.  

And his report on my right knee:

Four views of the right knee shows well-positioned implants with no evidence of loosening malalignment or fracture.

Avoiding Spending
We definitely avoided any spending this week. I was only out of the house one day to run errands and avoided any spending. We've also been able to keep both the heat and the ac off this week. 
Saving Money YouTube Videos
10 Frugal Dutch Habits to Save Money and Live Simply ~ Vera talks about how the Dutch save money and shares ten frugal Dutch habits to save money and live simply. She cites the high cost of food and houses in The Netherlands as some of the reasons why people choose to be thrifty. 
27 Ways to Spend Less and Save More Everyday ~ A video by Jennifer Cook with some real good saving money tips. 
25+ Clever Tips to Save Money on Food ~ Another video by Jennifer Cook
11 Ways to Break Free from the Paycheck-to-Paycheck Cycle ~ And lastly a third video by Jennifer Cook. I like her style and she is easy to listen to unlike some other videos. 
Saving Money on Entertainment
I've been watching Unsolved Mysteries on Amazon Prime this week. It's an oldie, but  goodie. 
What I've been Reading This Week
How Far $1 Million in Retirement Savings + Social Security Goes in Every State
Tennessee ranks number thirty-three on the list with an average monthly expenditure cost of  $1,713, and annual total cost of living for one person after SS benefits of $20,466. The report also states that $1M in retirement savings will last 48.86 years. 
Do you want to check out the results for your state or a state where you would like to move? Click on the link above to read about that. Bailey speaks abut moving to another country someday and how the cost of living can be less expensive in some places. I doubt we would ever do that, but we do know of others who have and are succeeding. 
Remember to live beneath your means, cut your food budget, stop buying stuff ad teach yourself new skills as you go about your business this 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.

BelindaHomemaker at HeartMortgage & Debt Free~ Living within our Means ~My Linktree
~ She looketh well to the ways of her household ~Proverbs 31:27

Menu Plan Monday ~ Saving Money in my Frugal Kitchen ~ Week #2 of February 2025

My Frugal Week

This week I opened up the large can (105 ounces) of peaches we bought at Kroger for $8.99 a while back. We’ve been enjoying them with a scoop of cottage cheese this week and I also added some to my gelatin cups.  

One of my friends gave me some fresh mushrooms the other day, so I dried them in the oven and have them in a canning jar now to use when needed. 

Recipe of the Week

Creamy Potato Soup

Ingredients:

• 5 pounds russet potatoes, chopped
  Smoked ham hocks 
  2 cups chopped yellow onion
  1 cup chopped celery 
  2 tablespoons minced garlic cloves 
  2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme
  2 teaspoons salt
  1 teaspoon pepper
  5 cups chicken broth
  1 cup heavy cream

Directions: 

Add potatoes, ham hocks, onion, celery, garlic, thyme, salt, and pepper in a slow cooker.

Add broth, and stir to combine. 

Cover and cook on high until potatoes are tender, 4 hours

Remove ham hocks, and place on a plate to cool 15 minutes.

Puree soup in slow cooker with an immersion blender until it's creamy. 

Feel free to leave some whole pieces of potato.

Add cream, and stir.

Once ham hocks are cool enough to handle, remove meat and chop. 

Discard fat and bone. 

Add meat to soup, and stir to combine.

Ladle soup in bowls and top with your choice of toppings. 

Photo of the Week

 

What’s for Dinner

Monday ~ Cheesy Potatoes using a marked down package of ground beef, Yukon gold potatoes, and cheddar cheese. Served alongside with corn and salad. 

Movie Night Tuesday ~ Homemade Pizza for movie night. 🎥 🍿 

Wednesday, Thursday & Friday ~ Using a marked down rotisserie chicken for $3.97 from Walmart, which I deboned, I made Chicken Taco Meat and served that with tortillas, cheddar cheese, tomatoes, onions, lettuce, and corn. 

Saturday ~ I put a five pound bag of chicken leg quarters in the crockpot early in the morning and later deboned and skinned them. I then added onions and spices and let that cook all day long. I served that with your choice of a baked sweet potato or Yukon gold, and a stir fry of various vegetables. 

Souper Sunday ~ Ham & Potato Soup. 

What’s been on the menu in your home this past week?

Belinda

Homemaker at Heart

Mortgage & Debt Free~ Living within our Means ~My Linktree
~ She looketh well to the ways of her household ~Proverbs 31:27

First Frugal Friday of February 2025

Welcome to Frugal Friday! 
My Frugal Week

Bailey and I made a trip just south of Atlanta to Decatur, Georgia last Friday night. We went to an author event at a locally owned small business bookstore called Little Shop of Stories. It is the cutest little bookstore. 💕 

They have the bathroom decorated with book covers as wallpaper.

On Sunday I deep cleaned my bedroom, moving and dusting furniture, vacuuming the entire room, and putting up new curtains. These are thermal black out curtains, and I wanted them to cover the windows in the cold winter months. 
What a difference the new curtains have already made. My bedroom temperature is about five degrees warmer, so they will help save money on the electric bill. I woke up at eight a.m. Monday morning, but it was still dark in my bedroom when normally it is light and bright. 

I went to fill my car up on Monday and stopped at our new Food City to get in on an El Paso sale. If you bought five items you could get them for $1.49, which sells at Walmart for $3.48, so this was $1.99 less, which is a great deal. Unfortunately, they only had three cans left, so I also bought two taco sauces to make it up to five items.
While I was there I also bought this marked down package of ground beef. 

On Tuesday I had an errand to run and stopped in at Walmart and was able to buy two of their rotisserie chickens on markdown for $3.97. Bailey requested egg whites, but they were completely sold out of them. 
Wednesday was my last day of in-home physical therapy as they discharged me because I’m doing really well. I see my orthopedic surgeon on Friday for a follow up and to get started on my left knee. 
Freebies
Not actually a freebie, but I found a Yeti cup this week. How cool is that?
Photo of the Week
On Friday, the day we went to the bookstore near Atlanta, our electric bill usage was only 23.62 kWh. I love it!

Savings of the Week
It was very cold when I was in Walmart on Tuesday, so I took a look at their sweaters and jackets because I need one in a smaller size, so I found an open front sweater on clearance for $17 and put it on while I finished shopping. I was like Minnie Pearl with the price tag still on it as I shopped. LOL
Saving Money YouTube Videos
35 Extreme Ways to Save Money on Food ~ Prepper Princess

There is a peace that fills my soul when I am at home, doing everyday tasks such as laundry, putting groceries away, cleaning, cooking, or whatever else may need my attention.  I’ve been so much more productive around our home with the added mobility from my new knee. I’ve carried in all the groceries making multiple trips up and down the stairs, which was impossible before. This has renewed my spirit in a way I haven’t experienced in a long time. 

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.

BelindaHomemaker at HeartMortgage & Debt Free~ Living within our Means ~My Linktree
~ She looketh well to the ways of her household ~Proverbs 31:27