Expert insights. Personalized for you.
What I Spent. I spent $135 on groceries this week, which I am a little surprised at because I went to Costco. But yay me! I’m ending this month with $689 in total spending, and I’d budgeted $750 because of it being a five week month. January Grocery Spending ($150/week budget). MORE
I’m not sure I thought I’d ever see the day when half of the United States population was homeschooling*. But here we are! Welcome to the group, everyone. *A A reader pointed out that perhaps a better name for this is “distance learning” Still. You are doing school. At home. MORE
What I Spent. I am very pleased to say that I did not go to the grocery store at all this week! However, we did get subs on Wednesday night ( $31 ), and we spent our date night budget on wings Saturday night, so there was a little bit of food spending. MORE
What I Spent. Actually, let’s start out with a picture of Zoe and one of our rescue cat friends. I got a $25 Hungry Harvest, I spent $39 at Panda Express, and I spent $90 on groceries. So: $154 for this week. MORE
Because credit is due where credit is due! Mr. FG cut our internet bill in half. Verizon had bumped our rate up to over $100/month because our previous negotiation had expired. MORE
I got this email about a year ago: Kristen, I was wondering what your feeling is about the essential oil craze that is going on now? I am a member of Young Living but it is super expensive so I don’t order all the time. MORE
Long Intro: On Monday, I wrote a Five Frugal Things post that mentioned CoolSculpting. And I wrote a few words about body image, and about how much money we could save if we did not believe the industry’s message which says, “Your body is wrong, and we can help you fix it.” MORE
I scanned a pile of receipts with Fetch. I’ve been using this app for a while now, and I can definitively tell you that it’s a much better use of your time if you buy a lot of brand name grocery/personal care items. MORE
What I Spent. I made a menu plan for two week’s worth of meals, made a list, and headed to the store. I spent a total of $227 , which is fine, because I’m not anticipating much grocery spending next week (two week’s worth of my budget would be $300). MORE
I got this recipe from one of my aunts back when I was a teenager, and for whatever reason, I haven’t made them much of late. Anyway, Lisey randomly remembered liking them and she said something about it the other week. MORE
I’m short on time today, but I know a lot of you love to share what you’ve had for dinner on the What I Spent, What We Ate posts. So, even though I won’t be able to type up a full post today, I at least wanted to put this up here for you guys. MORE
It’s always somewhat noteworthy when I do something plant-related. So three plant things is VERY noteworthy. I planted some green onion ends. You can do this indoors in colder weather (in a glass of water), but I always forget to change the water in mine, and they end up getting stinky. MORE
This has been a long week for a variety of reasons, and not really my best week of cooking. The combo of just getting back from a trip (with no menu plan in hand) and then getting sick right away has made things a little wonky on the food front! MORE
Given the current worries about obtaining paper products, I thought a republish of this paper towel post might be helpful. Because if you’ve got a reusable product, you don’t have to worry about supply issues. MORE
I fixed Zoe’s chokers. She bought a set that turned out to be terribly flimsy; they kept breaking after just a few wears. Luckily, I was able to get them back together with a pair of needlenose pliers. How long will the repair last? I dunno. MORE
What I Spent. I was gone for most of this week, skiing with my parents and siblings out in California at Lake Tahoe. So, Mr. FG and the girls were at the helm in the kitchen, and they did quite a fabulous job. MORE
Hello, hello! Time for your regular midweek dose of normalcy. I planted basil. When I made my last grocery trip, I picked up a packet of basil seeds for $2. I’m kind of a black thumb, as I’ve mentioned before, but basil is pretty easy even for black thumbs to grow. MORE
Note: I was doing laundry yesterday and remembered that I did not always know I should unbutton shirt collars. It’s a serious habit for me now, but I figured a republish of this reminder might be helpful! MORE
If you have a big fat home-improvement budget, then making your home beautiful is no great challenge. But since most of us have a lot of other things vying for our money, I thought I’d make a list of ways to make your home feel more lovely for a grand total of $0. Clean it up. MORE
It’s been a weird week. No homeschool tutorial, our appointments are all cancelled, and Mr. FG has now begun working from home. Zoe and I DID leave the house to go do our shift at the cat rescue, though, because cats still need to eat. MORE
I realized yesterday that I told my email subscribers and Twitter followers about this, but I never said anything on my actual blog. In November, I started a tiny blog with somewhat tiny posts that are a tiny bit more personal than what I share here. MORE
Since most of us are trying not to go to the grocery store too much these days, I thought a republish of some menu planning tips could be helpful. I hope this serves you as you try to feed your household safely. MORE
I bought a squirrel repellent for my van. Longtime readers will remember my persistent troubles with squirrels nesting in my van. Last year, I even found live baby squirrels in there!). I’d heard the suggestion of an under-hood light before, but at first, I thought that made no sense. MORE
I have a bunch of unrelated things to talk about today, so…buckle up for a miscellany post. My squirrel repellent gadget is working great. I apologize for the yelling in the title of this post, but people! I am excited! MORE
What I Spent. I spent $107 at the grocery store, plus $33 at Chick-Fil-A (see below!). a small kitten from our shelter shift this week. January Grocery Spending. Week 1: $33. Week 2: $199. Week 3: $140. What We Ate. Saturday. Mr. FG and I went out and shared a pizza. Sunday. MORE
It’s been a weird week. No homeschool tutorial, our appointments are all cancelled, and Mr. FG has now begun working from home. Zoe and I DID leave the house to go do our shift at the cat rescue, though, because cats still need to eat even during a pandemic. MORE
Here it is: Eat more of your fruits and vegetables. It’s not complicated. But it is hard to do. Why focus on fruits and veggies? For one thing, they’re one of the food types most likely to be wasted. ( MORE
I hadn’t planned to do any more posts about my nose, but I’ve gotten a couple of messages asking about it lately, wondering how the nose job is holding up. And since I like to do posts that cover what you guys want to know about, well, here we are. Wait, you got a nose job? Kind of. MORE
Hello, frugal people! It’s been kind of dreary and rainy here, and I’m feeling a little bummed out from all the clouds. Here’s hoping for some sunshine soon! Zoe and I DID get to see our very plump friend at the cat rescue center, though, and she is kind of like sunshine. MORE
This week’s edition of Five Frugal Things happens to be entirely about mending, because once I get my sewing stuff out, I like to get it all done at once. I fixed Arthur’s eye. MORE
“You don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone.” ” says the song. And I think that’s true for most of us, most of the time. We go through life somewhat mindlessly, not really appreciating what we have until it’s taken from us. MORE
Since the grocery store options are a little iffy for most of us, this seems like a perfect time for a freezer challenge. Are you with me? Almost all of us have a stash of random food hiding out in our freezers (doubly true for those of us with chest freezers!), MORE
In a recent email from James Clear , I read this quote (by him): The fact that you go to the gym even though you don’t “need” to… is why you don’t need to. The fact that you save when you could spend… is why you have money to spend. Your habits create your strength. MORE
Life has gotten considerably crazier here in the U.S. since I last blogged on Friday. Schools are closed, events are cancelled, people are working from home, and, uh, the grocery stores are kind of nuts. If you want something like lemon extract, you’re good. It’s in stock! MORE
What I Spent. So, here’s what happened. I made a menu plan , went to the store on Monday, and bought the things I needed for the week. Aldi looked too crazy, so I went to another store and spent $176. That is why I shop at Aldi. MORE
Last year, I made a running list of what I read (though I fell off the wagon toward the end of 2019). The problem with that method is that you end up with one REALLY LONG and bulky page, so I thought this year, I’d break it down by month instead. MORE
What I Spent. I tried four recipes from the ATK Bowls cookbook that I patiently waited for at the library. Since it’s new and in high demand, I figured I’d better dive in and quickly see if it’s a cookbook I want to own! Anyway, grocery spending first! MORE
Reader WilliamB emailed me this past week, suggesting that in these times of unrest, it might be nice to have a post (and comment section) dedicated to sharing some of the lovely things we’ve seen this week. MORE
This week, I’ve been reminded again of something I appreciate about you guys: there are so many of you that consistently show up and interact in the comments, talking to me and also to each other. MORE
Sometimes when I’ve done Stitch Fix posts, you guys have suggested that I instead hire one of my girls to be a stylist for me. So, we decided to take your suggestion. Meet my new stylist! Sonia, who has always been a passionate shopper, seemed like the perfect candidate for the job. MORE
I and lots of other Frugal Girl readers have been busy working on eating the odds and ends in our freezers. We’ve been chatting about that all week on the FG Facebook group , but I didn’t share all of my freezer adventures there. The whole rundown is here! MORE
If you dislike Stitch Fix posts…consider yourself warned! Proceed only if you feel like being irritated today. If you’d rather peruse some hilarious second-hand fashion: the ThredUp Rescue Box fails. And here are the ThredUp Rescue box keepers. (I’m MORE
I got a free E-Z pass transponder. The E-Z pass is an electronic toll collection system that’s used on the east coast and also as far into the Midwest as Illinois.). MORE
Things were quiet here yesterday because after I got home from skiing , I promptly got sick with a cold. Hopefully it’ll be a quick one! I caught a $150 medical bill error. MORE
The Frugal Girl
APRIL 10, 2020
What I Spent. I am very pleased to say that I did not go to the grocery store at all this week! However, we did get subs on Wednesday night ( $31 ), and we spent our date night budget on wings Saturday night, so there was a little bit of food spending.
The Frugal Girl
APRIL 3, 2020
What I Spent. I made a menu plan for two week’s worth of meals, made a list, and headed to the store. I spent a total of $227 , which is fine, because I’m not anticipating much grocery spending next week (two week’s worth of my budget would be $300).
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
The Frugal Girl
APRIL 8, 2020
Hello, hello! Time for your regular midweek dose of normalcy. I planted basil. When I made my last grocery trip, I picked up a packet of basil seeds for $2. I’m kind of a black thumb, as I’ve mentioned before, but basil is pretty easy even for black thumbs to grow.
The Frugal Girl
MARCH 27, 2020
What I Spent. So, here’s what happened. I made a menu plan , went to the store on Monday, and bought the things I needed for the week. Aldi looked too crazy, so I went to another store and spent $176. That is why I shop at Aldi.
The Frugal Girl
APRIL 6, 2020
Reader WilliamB emailed me this past week, suggesting that in these times of unrest, it might be nice to have a post (and comment section) dedicated to sharing some of the lovely things we’ve seen this week.
The Frugal Girl
APRIL 1, 2020
It’s always somewhat noteworthy when I do something plant-related. So three plant things is VERY noteworthy. I planted some green onion ends. You can do this indoors in colder weather (in a glass of water), but I always forget to change the water in mine, and they end up getting stinky.
The Frugal Girl
MARCH 26, 2020
Since most of us are trying not to go to the grocery store too much these days, I thought a republish of some menu planning tips could be helpful. I hope this serves you as you try to feed your household safely.
The Frugal Girl
FEBRUARY 21, 2020
This has been a long week for a variety of reasons, and not really my best week of cooking. The combo of just getting back from a trip (with no menu plan in hand) and then getting sick right away has made things a little wonky on the food front!
The Frugal Girl
MARCH 30, 2020
I and lots of other Frugal Girl readers have been busy working on eating the odds and ends in our freezers. We’ve been chatting about that all week on the FG Facebook group , but I didn’t share all of my freezer adventures there. The whole rundown is here!
The Frugal Girl
JANUARY 31, 2020
What I Spent. I spent $135 on groceries this week, which I am a little surprised at because I went to Costco. But yay me! I’m ending this month with $689 in total spending, and I’d budgeted $750 because of it being a five week month. January Grocery Spending ($150/week budget).
The Frugal Girl
JANUARY 29, 2020
Here it is: Eat more of your fruits and vegetables. It’s not complicated. But it is hard to do. Why focus on fruits and veggies? For one thing, they’re one of the food types most likely to be wasted. (
The Frugal Girl
MARCH 20, 2020
It’s been a weird week. No homeschool tutorial, our appointments are all cancelled, and Mr. FG has now begun working from home. Zoe and I DID leave the house to go do our shift at the cat rescue, though, because cats still need to eat even during a pandemic.
The Frugal Girl
JANUARY 20, 2020
I bought a squirrel repellent for my van. Longtime readers will remember my persistent troubles with squirrels nesting in my van. Last year, I even found live baby squirrels in there!). I’d heard the suggestion of an under-hood light before, but at first, I thought that made no sense.
The Frugal Girl
JANUARY 13, 2020
If you dislike Stitch Fix posts…consider yourself warned! Proceed only if you feel like being irritated today. If you’d rather peruse some hilarious second-hand fashion: the ThredUp Rescue Box fails. And here are the ThredUp Rescue box keepers. (I’m
The Frugal Girl
JANUARY 15, 2020
I got a free E-Z pass transponder. The E-Z pass is an electronic toll collection system that’s used on the east coast and also as far into the Midwest as Illinois.).
The Frugal Girl
MARCH 16, 2020
Life has gotten considerably crazier here in the U.S. since I last blogged on Friday. Schools are closed, events are cancelled, people are working from home, and, uh, the grocery stores are kind of nuts. If you want something like lemon extract, you’re good. It’s in stock!
The Frugal Girl
MARCH 9, 2020
In a recent email from James Clear , I read this quote (by him): The fact that you go to the gym even though you don’t “need” to… is why you don’t need to. The fact that you save when you could spend… is why you have money to spend. Your habits create your strength.
The Frugal Girl
JANUARY 17, 2020
What I Spent. I spent $107 at the grocery store, plus $33 at Chick-Fil-A (see below!). a small kitten from our shelter shift this week. January Grocery Spending. Week 1: $33. Week 2: $199. Week 3: $140. What We Ate. Saturday. Mr. FG and I went out and shared a pizza. Sunday.
The Frugal Girl
MARCH 11, 2020
Because credit is due where credit is due! Mr. FG cut our internet bill in half. Verizon had bumped our rate up to over $100/month because our previous negotiation had expired.
The Frugal Girl
FEBRUARY 7, 2020
Hello, frugal people! It’s been kind of dreary and rainy here, and I’m feeling a little bummed out from all the clouds. Here’s hoping for some sunshine soon! Zoe and I DID get to see our very plump friend at the cat rescue center, though, and she is kind of like sunshine.
The Frugal Girl
JANUARY 24, 2020
This week, I’ve been reminded again of something I appreciate about you guys: there are so many of you that consistently show up and interact in the comments, talking to me and also to each other.
The Frugal Girl
MARCH 6, 2020
What I Spent. Actually, let’s start out with a picture of Zoe and one of our rescue cat friends. I got a $25 Hungry Harvest, I spent $39 at Panda Express, and I spent $90 on groceries. So: $154 for this week.
The Frugal Girl
MARCH 18, 2020
I’m not sure I thought I’d ever see the day when half of the United States population was homeschooling*. But here we are! Welcome to the group, everyone. *A A reader pointed out that perhaps a better name for this is “distance learning” Still. You are doing school. At home.
The Frugal Girl
MARCH 17, 2020
Given the current worries about obtaining paper products, I thought a republish of this paper towel post might be helpful. Because if you’ve got a reusable product, you don’t have to worry about supply issues.
The Frugal Girl
MARCH 2, 2020
“You don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone.” ” says the song. And I think that’s true for most of us, most of the time. We go through life somewhat mindlessly, not really appreciating what we have until it’s taken from us.
The Frugal Girl
MARCH 13, 2020
What I Spent. I tried four recipes from the ATK Bowls cookbook that I patiently waited for at the library. Since it’s new and in high demand, I figured I’d better dive in and quickly see if it’s a cookbook I want to own! Anyway, grocery spending first!
The Frugal Girl
FEBRUARY 24, 2020
I scanned a pile of receipts with Fetch. I’ve been using this app for a while now, and I can definitively tell you that it’s a much better use of your time if you buy a lot of brand name grocery/personal care items.
The Frugal Girl
FEBRUARY 3, 2020
Sometimes when I’ve done Stitch Fix posts, you guys have suggested that I instead hire one of my girls to be a stylist for me. So, we decided to take your suggestion. Meet my new stylist! Sonia, who has always been a passionate shopper, seemed like the perfect candidate for the job.
The Frugal Girl
MARCH 7, 2020
Note: I was doing laundry yesterday and remembered that I did not always know I should unbutton shirt collars. It’s a serious habit for me now, but I figured a republish of this reminder might be helpful!
The Frugal Girl
MARCH 23, 2020
Since the grocery store options are a little iffy for most of us, this seems like a perfect time for a freezer challenge. Are you with me? Almost all of us have a stash of random food hiding out in our freezers (doubly true for those of us with chest freezers!),
The Frugal Girl
FEBRUARY 28, 2020
I’m short on time today, but I know a lot of you love to share what you’ve had for dinner on the What I Spent, What We Ate posts. So, even though I won’t be able to type up a full post today, I at least wanted to put this up here for you guys.
The Frugal Girl
FEBRUARY 5, 2020
I fixed Zoe’s chokers. She bought a set that turned out to be terribly flimsy; they kept breaking after just a few wears. Luckily, I was able to get them back together with a pair of needlenose pliers. How long will the repair last? I dunno.
The Frugal Girl
FEBRUARY 26, 2020
I got this email about a year ago: Kristen, I was wondering what your feeling is about the essential oil craze that is going on now? I am a member of Young Living but it is super expensive so I don’t order all the time.
The Frugal Girl
MARCH 20, 2020
It’s been a weird week. No homeschool tutorial, our appointments are all cancelled, and Mr. FG has now begun working from home. Zoe and I DID leave the house to go do our shift at the cat rescue, though, because cats still need to eat.
The Frugal Girl
JANUARY 27, 2020
This week’s edition of Five Frugal Things happens to be entirely about mending, because once I get my sewing stuff out, I like to get it all done at once. I fixed Arthur’s eye.
The Frugal Girl
FEBRUARY 18, 2020
Things were quiet here yesterday because after I got home from skiing , I promptly got sick with a cold. Hopefully it’ll be a quick one! I caught a $150 medical bill error.
The Frugal Girl
JANUARY 22, 2020
Long Intro: On Monday, I wrote a Five Frugal Things post that mentioned CoolSculpting. And I wrote a few words about body image, and about how much money we could save if we did not believe the industry’s message which says, “Your body is wrong, and we can help you fix it.”
The Frugal Girl
FEBRUARY 14, 2020
What I Spent. I was gone for most of this week, skiing with my parents and siblings out in California at Lake Tahoe. So, Mr. FG and the girls were at the helm in the kitchen, and they did quite a fabulous job.
The Frugal Girl
JANUARY 19, 2020
If you have a big fat home-improvement budget, then making your home beautiful is no great challenge. But since most of us have a lot of other things vying for our money, I thought I’d make a list of ways to make your home feel more lovely for a grand total of $0. Clean it up.
The Frugal Girl
FEBRUARY 12, 2020
I hadn’t planned to do any more posts about my nose, but I’ve gotten a couple of messages asking about it lately, wondering how the nose job is holding up. And since I like to do posts that cover what you guys want to know about, well, here we are. Wait, you got a nose job? Kind of.
The Frugal Girl
FEBRUARY 10, 2020
I got this recipe from one of my aunts back when I was a teenager, and for whatever reason, I haven’t made them much of late. Anyway, Lisey randomly remembered liking them and she said something about it the other week.
The Frugal Girl
FEBRUARY 1, 2020
Last year, I made a running list of what I read (though I fell off the wagon toward the end of 2019). The problem with that method is that you end up with one REALLY LONG and bulky page, so I thought this year, I’d break it down by month instead.
The Frugal Girl
JANUARY 28, 2020
I realized yesterday that I told my email subscribers and Twitter followers about this, but I never said anything on my actual blog. In November, I started a tiny blog with somewhat tiny posts that are a tiny bit more personal than what I share here.
206 
Let's personalize your content