What’s in a name? When you’re naming a child, a country or a blog (duh), a lot of thought goes into it. Naming this blog took many forms over many almond milk lattes and text messages to friends and family. I wanted to convey my ultimate goal which is to help others live a cleaner and healthier life without blowing their life savings. Then, bam! Frugally Rooted was born. The “rooted” piece is a nod to my upbringing. I used to call my Dad “cheapskate” when I was little and I’m pretty damn happy that trait was passed down to me. That first part, “frugally” is very important because that this is a blog that is economically conscious and seeks to provide pennywise advice. I do believe that high-quality products sometimes have a high price tag and are worth buying, but not all of us have cash money falling out of our pockets to buy all of them. Hopefully I can help sift through what’s worth it.
Saving money on high-quality products is one of the most satisfying feelings.
For years I believed that eating healthy, local, organic food was out of my reach because of my college budget that later turned into a Public Educator budget (so, basically the same). That is simply untrue. I am the girl that puts things in my online shopping cart then waits for a sale and I’m ready to strike. I am also the girl that will “repurpose” leftovers when we’re out to dinner; a skill that is equal parts shocking and hilarious to my husband. The more time I spend in the world of health-conscious living and eating, the more I have developed the ability to do so on a budget.
I’ll admit it, my first Whole30 I went out and spent close to $400 on the very “best” ghee, oils, seasonings, snacks etc.
While I found myself knee deep in great food, I did not find myself even ankle deep in cash at the end of the month.
There are ways to save money without sacrificing quality. Here are some of my tips for keeping your wallet fat and happy…
- Download some apps- there are a bazillion apps out there that offer great deals on products and easy ways to save money. Familiarize yourself with them and pick one or two that you will use. If you try to take on 10 new routines at once, it won’t happen. Start small and build your money-saving army.
- Acorns- automatically rounds up every purchase to the next dollar and banks the change. You can also choose to have a weekly contribution. I put in $20 every Friday. It adds up people! I almost have a plane ticket to Iceland saved up! **UPDATE: I DO have TWO plane tickets to Iceland saved
- Ibotta- This app has lots of great deals on products you buy every week. You add products to your list, buy them, scan the receipt, and cash money shows up. Couldn’t be easier. Bonus: They also have a section to save moolah on booze! Who doesn’t love $5 off a bottle of wine?! The creator of this app went to Colorado State, so it must be insanely awesome (Go Rams!)
- You don’t have to buy all of the things. Just because a blogger you adore buys $402 eye cream does not mean that you NEEEEEEED it too. Is it incredible? Probably. But I’m in public education folks, good ol’ coconut oil does this trick for this FruGal. For some, $402 eye cream is totally worth it, but I’d rather buy a plane ticket or another kitchen appliance (there’s got to be room for one more somewhere). If you want to splurge on something, my rule of thumb is to wait a week before I buy it to see if I’m still dying to have it. I waited 6 months before buying an Instant Pot because I wanted to be sure it was worth the price tag.
- Shop smart. This one seems obvious but it may not always be. Invest in memberships where they are worth their price tag. I have memberships to Costco and Thrive Market and use both several times a month. It’s also imperative to know which stores or companies offer the best prices. For example, Natural Grocers had a special on Pederson Farms sugar-free bacon for $2.99 (regularly $7.99). Guess who is a proud owner of 12 packages of clean delicious bacon?! Buy things when they’re on sale and stock up. I buy all my bars, collagen, and Thrive brand items ONLY when they’re on sale.
- Get a deep freezer. If you can swing the space, invest in a chest freezer. We buy cuts of meat (see above mentioned bacon situation) when they’re on sale and freeze them. I also batch cook meals once or twice a month and freeze individual servings for busy weeks (ok, every week).
- Shop local. Find out about farms, farmer’s markets and local sellers. I found an amazing farm near my parents’ house that sells high-quality meats for a fraction of the price of “big box stores.” The $10 fill-a-bag farmer’s market hauls are my jam, too. You can also become a part of a co-op with a farm to get local produce weekly or monthly- consider sharing your share with a friend if the price tag doesn’t suit you. When you cut out everything that goes into buying what we eat from thousands of miles away, you save money and the planet… who doesn’t love that?!
Those are just a few slivers of advice I have in this area. I consider myself a money-saving ninja when it comes to creating a cleaner life. More to come on specific deals and recommendations!
Feel free to comment or shoot me a line with specific questions.
-The FruGal
No Comments