Sometimes I am without theme. My money saving thoughts are specific to no one topic. Rather they are inherent in my day to day life. My imperfect occasionally spend way too much life, that still seems fraught with frugal choices.
Somehow, they’re there.

From the copy of The Tightwad Gazette, seemingly ever present on my bedside table these days, to the Sunday afternoon spent making salsa with friends.

Gallons upon gallons of lacto fermented salsa. Made with bulk purchased local tomatoes ($.81/lb), whey from our homemade yogurt, onions and garlic price shopped at the Farmers Market, and limes from the Grocery Outlet, with the best price in town. And that’s just this afternoon.

Yesterday The Husband and I had a date at the $3 Movie Theatre. Snow White and The Huntsman. Popcorn. A little High Fructose Corn Syrup. $17.25. Sure, it’ll be out on DVD soon, but it satisfies The Husband’s desire for a dinner and a movie date, minus the dinner and the fat price tag.

That outing was well deserved after spending the day spreading another round of free wood chips in Ugly Garden and the Lady’s run. Which was after we made ketchup (there were a lot of bulk tomatoes), and at the same time as I had clothes drying on the outdoor line. Clothes washed with homemade laundry soap. And I still managed to sort items for donating, giving to friends, and selling.

Friday night was the very last of our previous beef purchase in stroganoff, with green beans from the garden, homemade bread. And Hulu. Quiet. Cheap. With limited commercial interruptions. I could go on, but how’s that for a backwards walk through our weekend?

I beat myself up a lot. My nose isn’t near close enough to the grind stone in regards to my spending and saving. My pedal is no where near the metal. I should work harder! Reign it in! Spend not! Ever. But, the little system I’ve created, this lifestyle, with all its flaws, there’s a good frugality foundation. I may need to build on that to get where I want, but it’s there. And I’m happy to acknowledge that.

How is frugality inherent in your life? Have you built your lifestyle around it?