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 We Saved in February
1. Downloaded Two Free Books on Audible
I was really excited to sign up for a Free 30 Day Trial of Audible. Audible is a service connected to Amazon that lets you listen to audiobooks. When you sign up, you get two books of your choosing for free! Score! If you’d like to try Audible out for free click through this link. You get to keep the books!
Savings: $30 (cost of the two books I downloaded for free)
2. Used My Grocery Store Rewards Card
I used to be an avid couponer. A couple of years ago when I had more time than money, I would spend Friday evening compiling dozens of coupons to match with the sales at my local grocery store. Then I would plan my meals and my shopping trip around them. It’s a great system, but I just don’t have the time anymore. (If you want to learn more about saving on your grocery budget, though, be sure to check out Money Saving Mom’s Grocery University. It’s an audio course that will save you hundreds on your grocery bill. Totally worth the $10 cost of the course!)
However, I don’t clip coupons right now. Instead, I use my grocery store rewards card. It helps me get the discounts and deals automatically–and it’s free. The store also has a website with hundreds of digital coupons. I spend about 5 minutes each week looking through them and loading the ones I want onto my card. So much faster, and I don’t have to carry around my coupon book anymore!
Savings: $36.25 (savings from my four weekly shopping trips)
3. Used Coconut Oil Facial Soap
This month I switched facial products. Instead of using the Clinique Skincare line like I have for years, I started using coconut oil to wash and moisturize my face. I was pretty skeptical at first, but I am so glad I tried it! It works great! I spent less than $8 for a carton of coconut oil that will last me for months. So much cheaper than what I had been doing. You can read more and get a quick tutorial in my post My Frugal DIY Experiments: Coconut Oil Facial Soap.
Savings: $9 (I’m estimating that it will cost $1 a month for the coconut oil, and I spent roughly $10 per month on the Clinique. That’s over $100 worth of savings over the course of the year!)
4. Had an In-Home Valentine’s Date
This year my husband and I decided to forgo a typical Valentine’s dinner and drinks out. Instead we stayed home and had an in-home date night after the kids went to bed. My husband picked out some nice cheeses and charcuterie to make a cheese tray. Then we ate, talked, and watched Into the Woods, which we checked out from the library. We had a great time and saved a ton!
Savings: $90 (Estimating $100 spent on dinner, drinks, and babysitting–minus the $10 we spent on our cheese tray items.)
5. Skipped Valentine’s Day Presents
In years past my husband has often bought me flowers and a card. I typically get him good coffee or a gift card. This year we decided to skip the presents. Instead I collected some poetry that I love and shared it with him. We also gave each other massages. Simple, meaningful, and fun.
Savings: $40 (estimating $20 each)
Total Savings: $205.25
It can be easy to get discouraged living a frugal lifestyle. Remember, however, that the little things add up! A small sacrifice here, a little creativity there–every bit helps.
How did you save this month? I’d love to hear your tips!
