Texas Homesteader ~
Today I’m sharing 5 Frugal Things I did to easily save some cold hard cash this week. Everything from discounts on travel, gifts, food and more.
We all could use to save a few bucks these days, #amiright??! If you need a little inspiration yourself, check it out!
(Note: Some links in this post will take you to other related articles for further information. But links preceded with * are affiliate links. If you click and buy something I could receive a tiny commission.)
This week was a potential gift-giving budget breaker. We had a birthday celebration as well as a baby shower to attend. But even with those roadblocks we were able to save some impressive cash!
1. Experience Gift for Less Money
I like to give experience gifts or homemade gifts where at all possible. My dad has everything he could ever need, so experience gifts fit the bill quite nicely for him.
He came for a visit and his birthday experience gift was for us to take him to a fancy-schmancy theater to see the Despicable Me 4 movie in cushy reclining comfy-chair comfort.
Bonus Gift Card Option: RancherMan did his homework beforehand! He found you could purchase a theater gift card and get $10 extra as a bonus. So to pay for the movie he bought a gift card using our Discover credit card, got $10 extra to spend and we still rack up our bonus points by using our credit card. WOOHOO!
Movie Ticket Discounts: PLUS, since we all qualified for the senior discounts our movie tickets were discounted around 10% on top of that. PERFECT!
Cheaper Lunch Specials: Afterward we dined at the restaurant right there in the massive theater. The menu was plentiful but we noticed there was a Thursday-Only lunch special that included delicious menu options we each wanted. SCORE!
2. Gifts For FREE Using Credit Card Points
We also attended a baby shower this week. The parents-to-be were registered and we found a very nice but kinda pricy gift for them through their *Baby Registry on Amazon.
So we cashed in some of our accumulated points from our credit card reward program and purchased that awesome gift with no money out of our pocket!
This money-saving tip was included in my Money-Saving Tips List post. Be sure to check your credit cards for loyalty programs.
3. Significant Discount for Lodging
Our insurance company offers many member rewards and we utilize them often. Everything from a rockin’ discount for our propane fuel to $500 additional cash off when we bought our car.
One benefit we use often when traveling is a significant discount on hotel rates. Their discount always beats any other discount we’ve ever found.
We had to travel for the baby shower we attended so we decided to rest overnight before coming back home. Our hotel room was discounted about $15 for the night and we got a free hot breakfast the next morning too!
Like the credit card loyalty discounts discussed above, be sure to take advantage of additional discounts from your insurance company too. Every dollar counts!
4. Repair Tear in Pop-Up Canopy Shade
I put up a pop-up canopy in my garden during the brutal Texas heatwave last month to save my vegetable garden.
But even with relatively light winds, the lightweight canopy tore. I contacted the manufacturer who said there was nothing they could do, the canopy was out of warranty.
But replacing even just the fabric canopy portion was extremely pricy! So I bought clear *Fiberglass Reinforced Waterproof Tape that’s supposed to repair tents & such & gave it a try.
So far it’s holding just fine and for a fraction of the cost of replacing the canopy cover. If another place tears in the future I still have repair tape to keep it going as long as possible.
5. YouTube For The Repair Win
My tractor’s fuel line & fuel filter needed replacing, which is a relatively easy repair… IF you know how to do it. YouTube to the rescue!
RancherMan checked out the repair procedure on YouTube and ordered the parts. He installed them this week for a mere fraction of time & money that would be expended to have it repaired otherwise.
My tractor is now up & running again, which is good because there’s plenty of work to be done!
Other Money-Saving Moves This Week
Homemade Meals for company
When dad came to visit other various family members came to see him while he was here. I served quick & easy homemade food.
Instant Pot Goulash – Dad’s favorite
Quick Hummus – Quick and easy snack for company
Homemade Yogurt – Simple light breakfast idea topped with fresh fruit.
Shortcuts for Homemade Meals
We don’t eat out often. We save lots of money, calories and our health by eating most of our meals right here at home. I employ plenty of shortcuts to be able to Cook From Scratch Every Day.
Sale on Corn for Feeders
RancherMan found a sale on corn so we stocked up for our wild game feeders. As an accomplished hunter, RancherMan keeps our freezers filled with wild game. This sale on corn saves even more money.
What are your 5 Frugal Things this week?
~TxH~
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