Menu Plan Monday ~ Saving Money in my Frugal Kitchen ~ Third Week July 2026

Welcome to Frugal Workshop where every Monday I share the simple strategies used to save money in my kitchen over the past week, along with the meals that made it to our dinner table. You'll find practical tips on how we saved money on food hopefully to inspire your own meal planning using the foods you have in your own pantry.

My Frugal Week

One of the easier ways to save money in your frugal kitchen is to use your freezer as an extension of your pantry. Buying discounted meat on markdown or on sale, bread, milk, cheese, and yogurt can all be frozen for later use. Buying a marked down rotisserie chicken and then freezing it is very economical when it comes to saving money on future meals. 

This week I made sure to use up my leftovers as usual, but did end up with three servings of green beans, so those went right into the freezer for future meals.  

On Wednesday I cut up melons and tossed the seeds and rinds into my compost pile in the woods. By Sunday we had eaten those smaller melons, so on Sunday I cut up a watermelon and composted that rind as well. 

Savings of the Week

Save-A-Lot had a two day sale Friday & Saturday where eggs were 49 cents a dozen with no limit. And they had colored bell peppers for 50 cents each. We stopped in while yard sales were going on, but unfortunately they were all sold out already. 

Recipe of the Week

This week I made up a brine for the fresh cucumbers we have on hand. We used to make these regularly when I was growing up. It was just a simple brine of vinegar, garlic, dill, water, and onions. 

Photo of the Week

This is my haul from People Helping People and the Mennonites on Saturday night. I didn't get any of those 50 cents Save-A-Lot peppers, but the Lord does provide. This is going to be a bell pepper week here for sure. I'll have to make Stuffed Peppers for dinner one night. There are also two white cucumbers in the picture above if you can see them.

 What’s for Dinner

Monday ~ Egg Roll in a Bowl, Macaroni & Cheese, Steamed Broccoli. 

The egg roll in a bowl was left over from Sunday nights dinner and the macaroni an cheese was a box from Trader Joe's. 

Tuesday ~ Taco Salad

Wednesday & Thursday ~ Lentil Loaf Meatballs, Baked Sweet Potatoes, Steamed Broccoli, and Pickled Cucumbers. 

To start off I cooked the lentils in my three quart instant pot and sautéed the onions for additional flavor before adding all the other ingredients. Rather than make a lentil loaf I made these into meatballs and served them with brown gravy. I served this with roasted sweet potatoes and steamed broccoli. 

There was enough left over for lunch on Friday. 

Fish on Friday ~ Salmon Patties, Mixed Vegetables, Pickled Beets, Pickled Cucumbers. 

Saturday ~ Grilled Citrus Chicken, Steamed Broccoli, and Pickled Beets.

  Sunday ~ Pollo Asado Chicken Thighs, Bean Salad, and Brussel Sprouts. 

This meal was a markdown from Kroger we picked up at the first of this month. Bailey likes chicken thighs better than white meat, so I knew she would enjoy this. I also made a bean salad and steamed Brussel sprouts as our side dishes. We also had fresh cucumbers and peppers to enjoy along with watermelon if anyone wanted some. 

What’s been on the menu in your home this past week? 

Belinda

Homemaker at Heart

~ Living within our Means ~Frugal Workshop Linktree
~ She looketh well to the ways of her household ~Proverbs 31:27

Image Credit

Third Frugal Friday of July 2026

Welcome to Frugal Friday
Each Friday here at Frugal Workshop, I love sharing the frugal wins, quiet savings, and simple strategies that helped us stretch our budget over the past seven days. It’s a gentle look back at the small things that make a big difference. 
Quote of the Week

You can’t improve what you don’t measure.  ~ Consumer Affairs 

My Frugal Week
Last Friday we went to Kroger in Dalton, Georgia and then to Woodstock, Georgia in order to shop some of the thrift stores there. I didn't buy very much at all as I think the thrift store prices on clothes are higher than I want to pay. I did pick up a copy of Southern Living's Heritage Cookbook for 99 cents though. 
On Tuesday we met with our real estate lawyer and afterwards we went to Chattanooga to McKay Used Books to trade. We received over $66 in trade credit and the books I wanted came to around $20 and Bailey used the rest of the credit on the items she selected. 

The children's books were placed in the treasure box I keep for the students I tutor. The summer camp journal was already chosen from the treasure box yesterday. 

While thrifting over the weekend I found two new math games. The game pictured above is Roll 'n Multiply and was awarded  the Dr. Stevanne Auerbach award of excellence for its educational value. The game sells for $24.99. but I picked it up for $1.00 and it was brand new still in the shrink wrap. 
The students I tutor really liked this one and I can see how it's going to benefit them in learning their multiplication facts. One of them even asked me if I could get another one to put in the treasure box. 
On Wednesday I posted new no trespassing signs around the property. We’ve been having random strangers driving up here setting off the driveway alarm and then turning around in the yard and leaving without saying a word once they see us looking at them from the upstairs window. 
I received a payout from Google Search for $2.29. 
Yard Sale Saturday
Last Saturday they had been calling for 70% chance of rain, so there were not many yard sales. We went to two sales and one of those was a church sale. 
Freebies
Two of the yard sales we attended last week were giving away free books, so we picked up several of those for the students I tutor. And one of the thrift stores had free math books for the grade I am tutoring, so that was a win-win to me. 
Saving on Electric
Our electric bill came this week and I figured it cost us around $4 per day for the electricity in our all electric home, which was during a heatwave, so worth it in my book. 
How was your week?

Thank you for dropping by my frugal blog, you are always welcome here. 
We would love to hear all about your week in the comment section.

Belinda 🫶 💕 Homemaker at Heart 💕 ~ Living within our Means ~My Linktree
~ She looketh well to the ways of her household ~Proverbs 31:27

Menu Plan Monday ~ Saving Money in my Frugal Kitchen ~ Second Week of July 2026

Welcome to Frugal Workshop where every Monday I share the simple strategies used to save money in my kitchen over the past week, along with the meals that made it to our dinner table. You'll find practical tips on how we saved money on food hopefully to inspire your own meal planning using the foods you have in your own pantry.

My Frugal Week

I cleaned out and organized the refrigerator on Wednesday making sure I was using both our fresh produce and leftovers in a timely manner. After cutting up most of the vegetables I took the rinds and seeds outside to the compost pile. 

On Friday we picked up grapes at Kroger, which were on sale for $1.99 a pound. I also picked up several varieties of melons including more yellow watermelon as it is good and sweet. I also bought more blackberries at Sam's Club and washed and cut up all the fruit on Saturday. 

You've probably read about the nationwide outbreak of cyclosporiasis, which has sickened over 1,000 people, and has been linked to raw, fresh produce. Health agencies advise purchasing whole heads of lettuce rather than pre-bagged mixes. I've also heard it may be extended to blackberries. So, I washed and made a solution of baking soda and vinegar and washed my berries more then I usually do this week. 

Savings of the Week

We found this box of Organic Chia Oatmeal in the Crash & Burn section of Kroger for 56 cents. I only bought one box and left the others for someone else. 

What’s for Dinner

Monday ~ Egg Roll in a Bowl, Corn on the Cob. 

I used a lot of vegetables in this dinner including half of a cabbage, several carrots, onions, and multicolored peppers. I also used Jimmy Dean turkey sausage, which tasted so good that I will definitely be buying that brand again. 

Tuesday ~ Leftovers from Monday

Wednesday & Thursday ~ Bruschetta Chicken, Green Beans with Onions, Red Peppers, Grape Tomatoes.

I made up a mixture of tomatoes, garlic, basil, and olive oil and made a bruschetta, which I baked in the oven over some grilled chicken I made.  We enjoyed it and it was  something different from what we are used to eating. 

Friday ~  Grilled Salmon, and Broccoli Salad. 

Saturday ~ Baked Chicken Strip Sandwiches.   

Sunday ~ Egg Roll in a Bowl, Carrots, Sliced Peppers, Cucumbers, and Grape Tomatoes. 

I’d saved the leftover broth from green beans I made earlier in the week and used that to sauté the onions for this dinner. This saves on both calories and money by not using any oil for sautéing.  

What’s been on the menu in your home this past week? 

Did you build up or organize your pantry this week?  

We would love to hear all about it in the comment section. 

Belinda

Homemaker at Heart

~ Living within our Means ~Frugal Workshop Linktree
~ She looketh well to the ways of her household ~Proverbs 31:27

Image Credit

Second Frugal Friday of July 2026

 

Welcome to Frugal Friday

Each Friday here at Frugal Workshop, I love sharing the frugal wins, quiet savings, and simple strategies that helped us stretch our budget over the past seven days. It’s a gentle look back at the small things that make a big difference. 
My Frugal Week
When I was giving away Dad’s soda pop bottles a few weeks ago I kept a few back because I knew they were worth something to someone. This week I sold one on Facebook Marketplace for $20, which is pretty good in my book for something that was just sitting around in an old shed collecting dust. 
I scanned all of my receipts into Fetch and NCP. I received an email from Walmart to renew my Walmart Plus membership at 50% off after cancelling it last month when they wanted me to renew it at full price ($98). I was hoping they would offer this to me and they did. Score!
I also received an email from Triple AAA to renew one year of membership for half price so I took advantage of that this week too. We’ve had this membership for many years now and have used them multiple times, so it’s definitely an expense worth keeping. 
We spent the 4th of July at the Cook Family 4th of July Fireworks Show & Farm. We had the best time socializing with friends, eating dinner together and then a very elaborate fireworks show. 
On Monday we had another clean out downstairs. We took another load of metal to the recycling center (1200 pounds!), and threw out about half a trailer full of garbage/stuff. 
In this photo you can see the pickup truck bed full of metal and the back half of the trailer full of metal. The first half of the trailer are items I tossed. 

I was of the mindset that if we’re going to have to move, I want to move as little as possible, so I threw out a great deal that I’d been hanging onto, some for sentimental reasons. 
On Tuesday I had a tutoring session, went to the farmers market for fresh produce, and met with a realtor about our home. More details to come on that later. 
I had a repairman come out on Monday and Wednesday to fix the drainage hose on our washing machine as the force of the water was making it leak. It’s all good to go now though. 
I've been watching money saving YouTube videos including Prepper Princess and Frugal Queen this week to help tweak my budget where I can. 
We woke up on Thursday to no power in the house, which was so quiet with none of the window air conditioners running. The electric company crew came by to check our line as they were trying to figure out where the issue was.  It was off for about four hours. 
I'm glad the power came back on for my tutoring session Thursday afternoon. Two weeks ago right in the middle of our session the power went off and I wouldn't care for a repeat of that. 

I emptied this plastic bag of toilet paper rolls, but kept the bag to reuse as a garbage bag soon. 
Yard Sale Saturday
No yard sales on July 4th due to the holiday. 
Freebies
I went by People Helping People on Tuesday and picked up some free green beans, which I broke/snapped and cooked and we ate on Wednesday and Thursday. They were so good and fresh. I also picked up more free zucchini and yellow squash. 
Saving on Electric
I've been keeping the air conditioner in my bedroom at 72 degrees when I do have it on along with a fan as needed. Raising the temperature just a couple of degrees in the summer time helps us to save money on our electric bill. 
Photo of the Week
Here are before and after photos of our cat Ginger who we had shaved last week. 

Its very obvious that he feels better as he is jumping up onto things where he wasn't before. It's hard to tell from the photo above, but he had a large matted area along his backbone, which is gone now and he seems happier for it. 

Saving Money on Entertainment
We've been rewatching the Toy Story movies in our quest to see Toy Story 5 hopefully this coming Tuesday at the theater on $5 Tuesday. 
My Reading Nook ~ What I've been Reading This Week
 I've been reading more than usual this summer and this week I’m rereading a book I read last year on boundaries. I also went to the library and claimed my second freebie for reading three more books, which was a magnetic note pad. 
How was your week?

Thank you for dropping by my frugal blog, you are always welcome here. 
We would love to hear all about your week in the comment section.

Belinda 🫶 💕 Homemaker at Heart 💕 ~ Living within our Means ~My Linktree
~ She looketh well to the ways of her household ~Proverbs 31:27

Menu Plan Monday ~ Saving Money in my Frugal Kitchen ~ First Week of July 2026

Welcome to Frugal Workshop where every Monday I share the simple strategies used to save money in my kitchen over the past week, along with the meals that made it to our dinner table. You'll find practical tips on how we saved money on food hopefully to inspire your own meal planning using the foods you have in your own pantry.

My Frugal Week

On Monday I went back to the local peach orchard and bought more peaches. The big baskets were $23 or you could get the same size basket of seconds for $13, which is what I bought. These are so good and sweet they are just delicious! 

I also bought six ears of corn from a former student who was set up selling his family farms corn. He gave me a big hug and told me I looked great, which made my day. 

On Tuesday Bailey and I went to the farm stand and bought more cantaloupe and watermelon as we had already eaten what I bought last week. We also dropped off a bag of donations to People Helping People. 

We went to Sam’s Club on Friday and bought some blackberries, milk, mini bell peppers, Cole slaw mix, olive oil, cocoa powder, toilet paper and bought our lunch of a beef hotdog and drink for $1.50 each. 

Saturday afternoon I cut up the two small watermelons and the cantaloupe we had on hand and dumped the rinds into our compost pile in the woods. So far no wild animals have eaten anything out of the compost and it may be because I moved it to a new spot this year. 

On Sunday we went to Kroger in Dalton to do our monthly grocery stock up. They’ve had shortages for the last few months and that was still evident today, unfortunately. 

What’s for Dinner

Monday ~ Sardinia Minestrone Soup

I made up my eight quart instant pot full with this soup and was able to put twelve individual bowls into the freezer for lunches and or dinners later. It’s such a good and healthy soup and a part of the Blue Zones diet where people in certain parts of the world live to be very healthy in their golden years. 

Tuesday ~ Baked Chicken Beast Filets, Baked Potatoes, Mixed Vegetables.

We also had several fresh fruits and vegetables like watermelon, cantaloupe, cucumbers, and red bell peppers. 

Wednesday ~ Tacos and Corn

I had a one pound package of ground beef in the freezer that I thawed for tacos with all the usual toppings and served corn as the side dish. 

Thursday ~ Grilled Fajita Chicken, Corn on the Cob, Brussel Sprouts. 

Fish on Friday ~ Nachos with Taco Meat and Queso Dip

Saturday ~ 4th of July Celebration with Pork BBQ, Meaty Baked Beans, Chips, Macaroni & Cheese, and Banana Pudding. 

Sunday ~ Beef Pot Roast with Carrots & Onions, Cabbage. 

What’s been on the menu in your home this past week?

Belinda

Homemaker at Heart

~ Living within our Means ~Frugal Workshop Linktree
~ She looketh well to the ways of her household ~Proverbs 31:27

Image Credit