I love reading blogs like Frugally Blonde which share practical ways that their family has saved money. A few months ago I decided to write my own post each month on how we save, and it has quickly become one of the most popular features here on The Orthodox Mama.
5 Ways I Saved in June
This month’s savings were all about summer fun! Summer can actually be a fairly expensive time of year with vacations, kids out of school, etc. So, finding ways to save is always a good thing! Here are a few ways I saved money this month:
1. Free Entertainment
The kids and I have been taking advantage of all of the free events we can find around town. In June we: hiked the grounds at Montpelier, attended story time at the library, went to splash parks, played at eight different playgrounds, hiked at a local nature preserve, had playdates, and more. My oldest son especially enjoyed a free cartooning workshop at our local library, and I was super impressed with what he drew! Finding free entertainment can take a bit of work and creativity, but it is definitely good on the budget!
Estimated Savings: $100
2. Purchased a Hotel Room with Ebates
We are currently planning our road trip to Texas and Oklahoma to visit family. We love travelling to see grandparents and aunts and uncles, but travel expenses can add up quickly. (You can check out a few of our best frugal travel tips for Planning a Frugal Family Road Trip.) I was really excited to find a great deal on a reputable hotel along the way.
To make things even better, I used Ebates when I bought it, so I received cash back. Score! Ebates is a website that will give you cash back for any online purchase made–you just have to go through their website first. So, I went to Ebates, typed “Expedia.com” into their search bar, and then clicked on the link. Then I received cash back for the purchase I was going to make anyway. So easy!
(And, right now if you sign up for Ebates HERE, you’ll receive $10 cash back just for creating an account and making your first purchase. If you do any online shopping at all, Ebates is the way to go. I’ve earned over $250 in the past year.)
Estimated Savings: $14
3. Ate Inexpensive Dinners
Since we are trying to save some serious money right now, we ate a lot of inexpensive dinners this month. Grilled cheese, eggs and pancakes, black bean tostadas, and quesadillas were fairly typical fare for us this month. (If you are looking for simple, frugal meal ideas, I’ve written more extensively about 8 Frugal Meals for When You Don’t Feel Like Cooking.)
Estimated Savings: $25 (I generally budget $5 per dinner, but these meals only cost between $2-$3. Eating two inexpensive dinners a week, then, saves us around $25 each month. If your meals are more expensive, you’ll save even more.)
4. Found a Great Farmer’s Market
I love the farmer’s market. However, some markets are REALLY overpriced. I have found that smaller markets are usually more budget-friendly, and they give you better opportunities to interact more personally with the farmers. This month I explored a smaller market that I had not visited before and was really impressed. The prices are reasonable, the produce is excellent, and the vendors are friendly. During the summer months I budget $20 each week for fruit, vegetables, and eggs at the farmers market, and that amount went a lot further at this small one I tried out.
Estimated Savings: $20 (I am able to get at least 25% more produce for the same amount of price at the smaller market.)
5. Celebrated Father’s Day at Home
Finally, we had a great (but frugal!) Father’s Day celebration for my husband this month. Instead of going out to eat, we grilled our own chicken and brats. My husband loves to grill and makes the best food, so we had a blast. We also played corn hull and bocce ball in the backyard while cooking. It was a fun day without the cost of a meal out.
Estimated Savings: $40 (Our meal cost us less than $10, but going to a medium-range restaurant often costs our family of 5 at least $50.)
Total Estimated Savings: $199
Remember that frugal living is a marathon. Finding little ways to save each day really add up!
How did you save this month?
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