The Frugal Girl

OCTOBER 30, 2023

Meet a Reader is back! Tell us a little about yourself I am in my mid-forties, originally from Germany, but now living in Sweden – after many years in Asia. The good thing was, I didn’t get used to a “luxury lifestyle” (whatever that is) during all those years. Here’s Lina: 1. I have no kids but am happily married.

Green And Frugal 203

Green And Frugal Home and Garden Lunch Lunches 203

The Frugal Girl

NOVEMBER 20, 2023

Today we’re meeting a Midwestern reader who only occasionally masquerades as Mrs. Potato Head. ? Tell us a little about yourself I’m a married mother of two teenage boys (18 and 16) who grew up in the country near a small town in Iowa. I work out 4-5 days a week. How long have you been reading The Frugal Girl?

Iowa 164

Iowa Friends And Family Sale Boys Son 164

The Frugal Girl

JANUARY 22, 2024

Today we’re meeting a reader who is an artist, a homeschooler, a boy-mom, and a renter by choice. Tell us a little about yourself I’m Karen A. I mentioned it to my fiance and he asked me to please cut his hair for him, using the article as a guide! Hello, everyone! Here’s Karen: 1.

Rent 177

Rent Son Frugal Home and Garden 177

The Frugal Girl

NOVEMBER 13, 2023

Today, we’re meeting a reader who has managed to live for 2.5 Tell us a little about yourself When asked the question “Where are you from? My interest in frugality is less about saving money specifically, and more about making good use of the resources I have. years with no car (and two small kids!).

Kids and Family 186

Kids and Family Parenting Cars Car 186

The Frugal Girl

FEBRUARY 26, 2024

Today we’re meeting a reader who’s been here since 2009 (!!) Tell us a little about yourself. I don’t use it much, but I have run background checks for divorced friends who are dating again through online apps. Me personally, I waste WAY less potato by using a peeler. Here’s Beth: 1.

Daughter 130

Daughter Green And Frugal Money Grandmother 130

The Frugal Girl

JANUARY 29, 2024

We’re meeting an Arkansas reader today and initially, I thought she was the first one! Tell us a little about yourself Greetings from the NW corner of Arkansas, where I was born (around 40+ years ago) and raised. We have significant food restrictions so sourcing our own is helpful health-wise & cost-effective too.

Arkansas 177

Arkansas Frugal College Kids and Family 177

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

JANUARY 15, 2014

Of course, it likely won’t meet all of your vegetable needs even during the summer months, but you’re meeting some of your needs. As much as possible, we try to buy our food direct from the farmer. We buy the rest of our meat from a farmer who has a farm three hours away from us.

Home and Garden 216

Home and Garden Rent Growing Gardening 216

Family Balance Sheet

AUGUST 9, 2017

This post is sponsored by GIANT Food Stores. Recently, I had my question answered when GIANT Food Stores invited me and my daughters to meet with the in-store nutritionist, Madelyn, at their Camp Hill, PA store. She also asked them what their favorite foods are and what kinds of things they would like to see in their lunch.

Lunch 100

Lunch Lunches Kids and Family Daughter 100

The Frugal Girl

NOVEMBER 6, 2023

In a previous Meet a Reader post, we met MB in MN. Tell us a little bit about yourself. Highly rated, easy to use, and it sits gathering dust. Child did not like it, so we don’t use it. If I could spend it without strings, I might just donate it to a food pantry. Know what’s funny? Here’s MB: 1.

Kids and Family 184

Kids and Family Money Home and Garden Frugal 184

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

JUNE 16, 2014

Eat Healthier Foods . Adding more fruits and vegetables can be a great way to change your diet because these foods fill you up, leaving you feeling more satisfied for a longer period of time. Start planning your meals around healthy options, and little by little replace the junk food in your home with healthier options.

Wellness 212

Wellness Health Food and Drink Re-use 212

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

OCTOBER 18, 2012

There comes a time at work when you start feeling like you’re worth more than what you currently make. Well, asking for a raise is a game of negotiation, and you have to bring something to the table that convinces your employer you’re worth the extra bucks. Take Action.

Re-use 189

Re-use Office Work Money 189

Family Balance Sheet

JULY 9, 2014

We use the gym, so we’ve never felt like it was a waste of money. Cutting cable is definitely a big step, but it you’re ready to take the leap, find out How We Watch Great TV Without Cable. We want to have our cake and eat it too. We want to achieve our financial goals, but still enjoy life. Gym Membership.

Grocery Spending 242

Grocery Spending Financial Goals January Budgeting 242

Savings Corner

DECEMBER 27, 2023

If you’re trying to find the small business idea that’s right for you, ask yourself the following questions: Where is there a need in the market, and how can your skills satisfy that need? Your less math-friendly entrepreneurs could use your help in keeping their personal and business finances in order.

Real Estate 52

Real Estate Re-use Podcasts Work 52

Family Balance Sheet

OCTOBER 29, 2013

On Sundays, we’ll meet here to catch our breath, and let everyone know how we’re finding our $1000. You had to have known that this challenge was coming…I’ve taken away the drive-thru breakfast , then I told to you pack a brown bag lunch and now we’re eating dinner at home. Always use a coupon.

Dinner 113

Dinner At Home Finds Home 113

Family Balance Sheet

FEBRUARY 26, 2021

.” According to my plasma donation center’s website, “human plasma is used to produce therapies to treat bleeding disorders including hemophilia and von Willebrand disease, primary immune deficiencies, hereditary angioedema, inherited respiratory disease, and neurological disorders in certain markets.

Donation 130

Donation Money Food and Drink Europe 130

Family Balance Sheet

OCTOBER 23, 2013

On Sundays, we’ll meet here to catch our breath, and let everyone know how we’re finding our $1000. If I use an average of $7 a day and multiply that by 5 days a week and multiply that by 4 weeks a month, the monthly total for lunch was about $140–and that’s being conservative–YIKES!

Lunch 100

Lunch Lunches Finds October 100

Family Balance Sheet

FEBRUARY 19, 2016

Use my referral code to join. This Week’s Dinners: Saturday & Sunday: My kids had swim meets on both days. I packed food for breakfast and lunches, but we did go out to dinner on both nights…did I mention we spent the entire weekend at a pool…restaurant budget blown! How I Use Pinterest for Meal Planning.

Budgeting 100

Budgeting Budget Kids and Family Homemade 100

Family Balance Sheet

FEBRUARY 26, 2016

Use my referral code to join. This Week’s Dinners: I tried two new recipes this week that I found on the Food Network’s website. We meet every 3-5 months and always have a great time catching up. We’re always looking for new weekly meal plan ideas. How I Use Pinterest for Meal Planning.

Meals 100

Meals Leftovers Kids and Family Homemade 100

Couponing 101

SEPTEMBER 27, 2011

To make this deal even sweeter, use coupon code plumlove to get 30% off, making the deal only $21! About Ecomom.com : Whether you’re searching for diapers, food, skin care, or household items, you can rest easy knowing it’s all ecomom approved. Feel good about you’re bringing into your home.

Organic 61

Organic Organization Re-use Parenting 61

Koupon Karen

FEBRUARY 16, 2024

Be ruthless in your decision-making process; if you haven’t used an item in the last year or it doesn’t hold significant sentimental value, it’s probably time to let it go. Use this time to visualize the final setup of your rooms, considering the flow of space and how you’ll use each area.

Home 52

Home Tucson Furniture Friends And Family Sale 52

Savings Corner

DECEMBER 24, 2023

For instance, consider food, beauty, home services, real estate, hospitality and fitness — and then take a look at franchise opportunities within the area that interests you most. You’ll want to make sure you can meet the qualifications — and are willing to make the necessary investment — before moving forward.

Real Estate 52

Real Estate Buy Buying Finance 52

Family Balance Sheet

OCTOBER 14, 2013

On Sundays, we’ll meet here to catch our breath, and let everyone know how we’re finding our $1000. Yes, there are coupons, but you don’t have to use them to reduce your grocery bill. I do not use a lot of coupons–mostly because I find so few for products that we use. Stop wasting food.

Grocery Spending 113

Grocery Spending Groceries Grocery Finds 113

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

JULY 31, 2014

Was it the time you were able to save up and pay for something, or the time the re-possessor came around and took that car back? Warm weather, plentiful food to be had without working, few natural enemies and etc would have let us live in ease, but would we have grown? No one likes painful situations, but they can be useful.

Debt 167

Debt College Student Money 167

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

AUGUST 17, 2011

Do I have enough food, water, heat, light and shelter to last through depression like conditions? Can I meet my sanitary needs if sanitary sewer and water infrastructures collapse? It’s Time to Re-Stock for Emergencies. I will re-stock the pantry and re-fill the water jugs we keep.

Recession 176

Recession Economical Grandchildren Kids and Family 176

For the Mommas

DECEMBER 4, 2014

In this children’s picture book, you meet Jimmy, the little bunny, again. Have you used the same recipes over and over again for the past 10 years? Just like all children, Jimmy likes to eat candy but doesn’t even want to taste fruits and vegetables. What happens right after Jimmy climbs up to reach the bag of candy?

DIY 55

DIY Cookies Christmas Holiday 55

Family Balance Sheet

NOVEMBER 16, 2018

Whether you’re an avid Aldi shopper or new to the store, I’ve pulled together 7 Aldi Dinner Ideas for $70 to make your next meal plan easier. In a few meals, I used the cook once, eat multiple times method. You can easily use white or brown rice in these dinners, whichever you prefer. Nice work, Aldi! Instructions:

Dinner 100

Dinner Baking Cooking Microwaveable 100

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

JANUARY 14, 2015

When you can reuse or re-purpose an item, you are not only saving it from the landfills, but you are also saving the expense and energy which would have been expended when you recycle. I cut a heavy blue plastic trash bag into triangles, stapled them over a rope and hung the rope across the driveway to block those drivers from using it.

Reuse 100

Reuse Recycle Recycled Recycling 100

Saving Everyday

MARCH 10, 2019

One of my favorite tips is to have a “date jar” Put any extra change and small bills in it through the week, and then use the next time you want to have some fun. For example, when you cook together, challenge yourself to only use what you have and save a trip to the store.

Food and Wine 64

Food and Wine Snuggle Video Games Music 64

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

MAY 27, 2012

10 Reasons Why You’re Broke If you always seem to have more month than cash, then it’s time to look at why. See if you can identify with any of these statements: I spend more than I earn I don’t have a household budget I use credit cards all the time to buy everyday essentials like food, gas, transport.

Emergency Fund 212

Emergency Fund Credit Cards Budgeting Budget 212

Family Balance Sheet

DECEMBER 11, 2015

I use our own silverware, mostly because I hate eating with plastic ware. We’re having an Ugly Sweater party at our office this year. Host a Swap Meet. Gifts of food/baked goods. Then you’re house is a party destination. 10 Christmas Party Ideas: 1. Ugly Christmas Sweater Party. Gifts must be handmade.

Christmas 100

Christmas Budgeting Budget Swap 100

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

NOVEMBER 11, 2013

My condo association has been struggling for 6 years to build up a reserve fund to handle big future maintenance items, such as re-roofing. Then the board decided to re-stain prematurely. If you give into your desire to eat out at the fast food joint every day, you may develop a habit that leads to financial imbalance or heath issues.

Real Estate 183

Real Estate Money Kids and Family Budgeting 183

Family Balance Sheet

DECEMBER 10, 2014

Yep, we’re newlyweds and eloped together in December 2013. I started Careful Cents and used that as a platform to find freelance writing opportunities. I did the regular budget audit and cut things out like entertainment, fast food, and going out with friends. I took on extra work outside of my full-time accounting job.

Debt 227

Debt Debt Free Financial Goals Goals 227

Saving Everyday

JANUARY 22, 2016

And even though I work from home, I’m constantly on the go with meetings, activities, and socializing. Actually, they’re really not so new. You can find them in the frozen food section near the frozen entrées. Rice is heary and filling – it’s comfort food. Used (1) $1.50 AND used (1) $1.50

Meals 40

Meals Re-use Daughter Vermont 40

Nicoles Nickels

AUGUST 23, 2011

I was sponsored by Bumble Bee Foods again this year as a member of the Bee Squad. It took a lot of time and on Wednesday after we had 90 boxes of swag delivered to our rooms, we were definitely re-thinking the whole thing! I hope to work with many brands I got to meet at the expo hall.

San Diego 45

San Diego New York City Food and Wine Swagbucks 45

Family Balance Sheet

SEPTEMBER 29, 2016

Meet Angela. We’re typical Canadians that spend most of our free time in the fall and winter months inside arenas. We used (and currently still follow) Dave Ramsey’s Baby Steps. Shop with a list, and not just for food. We have also stuck to the cash envelope method to help us control our variable spending.

Debt 100

Debt Debt Free Budgeting Budget 100

Nicoles Nickels

JANUARY 13, 2013

This was a good week for both of us – we didn’t eat out at all and I even passed up pizza during a lunch meeting at work in favor of my Cheesy Homestyle Potatoes lunch! We just got Jamie’s next frozen food order today and woohoo! but the food tastes good and it’s filling! And the desserts!

Food and Wine 71

Food and Wine Food and Drink Lunch Lunches 71

Nicoles Nickels

APRIL 12, 2013

The proprietary formulas are created using modern science to provide the most effective results. We had spa treatments using the Nuance line to choose from. If you’re going to go for it you might as well do it up right! I love a good massage and this one used the Nuance body oil and a Nuance body cream.

CVS 61

CVS Puerto Rico Beauty Miami 61