Frugal Friday

We can only be said to be truly alive in those moments
when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.

- Thornton Wilder

I love when I look at my life and really see the value in what I have.  By that, I don't mean material things.  I'm talking about the love of my husband and children.  The enjoyment I find in my daily life.  The simplicity of my life.  The fulfillment in ministry.  These are my treasures and the reasons I look forward to each day.

 

Being creative in finding ways to be frugal is another of these treasures.  I enjoy figuring out ways to make things stretch and how to make do with what I have.  In fact, I love the satisfaction I get from it.  Sometimes being frugal means I have to do without but I usually am creative enough that I can find a good alternative.

 

Here are some ways I've saved the past few weeks.

 

$  Christmas is coming and I have three different locations where my items are carried.  I'm want to add some Christmas things and I do have a stash of Christmas fabric but not a lot.  However, I'm determined not to buy any until after the holidays when the prices are slashed.  I made a table runner last night and it turned out adorable and used very little fabric that was actually Christmas.  I found the solid blue that matched perfectly yet was just every day cotton.

 

 

$  We did go out to eat this week but used gift cards that we had received so it cost nothing.

 

$  I cut both Dan and Nathan's hair.  Emily got a haircut and since I barter with the hairdresser for sewing projects that cost nothing too.

 

$  I always add a bit of water to the end of the laundry detergent or dishwashing liquid bottle and give it a good shake and usually get enough out for one or two more loads of laundry or dishes.

 

$  Shopped primarily at Aldi and enough for two weeks and spent $179 which included all household supplies.  It shows how much the prices have gone up because about ten years ago I would spent $75 there for two weeks.

$ This one I can't really take credit for but we purchased life insurance and the agent gave us a gift card for $100 for local restaurants.  You have to go online and print out the certificates but hey! It's $100. :-)

 

I know there were other little things I did all week which are too many to list, but these are a few of the major things.  Now that Christmas is coming, I'm going to have to work even harder at this.