So here’s the story: It was mid-May, and we were wrapping up Mantour season. As usual, knowing our schedule during Mantour season would be crazy, I stocked up on all the meats and groceries we’d need to get through Mantours, filled our oil tank, and did everything I could so nothing fell through the cracks while we were on the road. We were set! From that point on, whenever something came up, I’d say, “I’ll get to it when Mantours are over.”
Well, it was May, and time for me to face all the things I’d been pushing aside and putting off.
As I started tackling my “to do” list, one thing became very clear very quickly: The world had gone crazy while we were busy with Mantour Conferences!!! While I knew the price of gas was rising (because we were constantly driving), I quickly realized the price of EVERYTHING had increased—-ALOT!
The first really big shock came when I needed to fill my oil tank. Last year at this time, we paid $1.99 for heating oil. In 2022, it cost $5.49 a gallon. And I had to shop around for that price!!! What I expected to cost about $300 was now over $700! That’s a big change to the budget.
The next big shock came at the grocery store when I saw the price of meat. And I wasn’t like I was shopping for steak—instead, chicken and hamburgers were now 30% or more than what I was paying before.
Of course, I don’t have to tell you this—you’ve been to the grocery store, and you’ve probably experienced the same sticker shock.
If you’re like me, you’ve probably also realized that you’re going to have to find ways to save money. But where do you start?
For me, the first thing I had to do was go back to some of the advice that was passed on to me by my Mom and Grandma years ago. Because if I’m being honest, over the past few years, I got a little lazy. Instead of practicing all the money-saving tips I was taught, I just bought the groceries I wanted and went on with my life.
However, with the new inflation, this is no longer possible. (At least on my budget.) So I’ve been digging up some of the money-saving tips I was taught by older women years ago and giving them a try. Boy, are they saving me money!!!
Then I started thinking, “I wonder how many other women know these tips?”
The Bible says that it is the responsibility of older women to pass on what they’ve learned to younger women. Given the gray hair and wrinkles that keep popping up without my consent, I suppose I now fall into the category of “older.” Lol
But that’s ok because, over the years, I’ve had a lot of wisdom passed down to me—especially in the areas of saving money, budgeting, and tips for wise spending.
With out-of-control inflation and gas prices soaring, it seems like a good time to pass some of this knowledge along.
That’s why every Friday, I’ll be sharing a tip for how to save money in this crazy economy. All of the tips will be simple and practical, and I’ll give examples of how I actually use them. I’m calling it “Frugal Fridays: Money-Saving Tips that Actually Work in a Crazy Economy.” Every week, I’ll add a the tip to a section on the website, so you can read any you miss.
We might as well get started with this week's tip:
#1. A Freezer is a Girl’s Best Friend.
Wait, aren’t we supposed to be talking about saving money, and your first tip is to spend it?
Yes! Because when it comes to saving money on groceries, a freezer really is a girl’s best friend.
The fact is that you can store almost anything in a freezer and extend its shelf life. This allows you to buy items like meat, cheese, fruits, vegetables, bread, and even milk at deep discounts, put them in the freezer, and use it whenever you need them. For instance, last week, our local store put boneless, skinless chicken breasts on sale for $1.99 per pound. Since that’s $1 off the normal price per pound, I bought 50 pounds and saved $50! When you save that kind of money on meat and groceries, the freezer pays for itself in six months to a year. Today, most freezers are energy efficient and only cost about $3 a month in electricity.
A freezer also lets you store leftovers to cook and reheat a week later. This doesn’t just save money; it saves time and energy.
Here are a few tips on purchasing a freezer:
---Buy a chest freezer instead of an upright—they are cheaper and more reliable.
---Buy a basic, reliable model. Don’t worry about paying extra for the self-defrost feature or computerized models. They just add to the price, and they are completely unnecessary. (They are also more likely to malfunction.)
---Don’t even pay extra for shelves—you can get cheap plastic basics at the Dollar Store or even just keep things separated with plastic bags.
All you need is a good, reliable freezer chest that allows you to store food.
Then when you see an amazing sale—you can stock up and know your food will be fresh, safe, and ready to eat when you need it. Honestly, this tip will help you follow many of the upcoming Frugal Friday tips.
So that's what's new this summer!!! I'm excited to see what God is going to do through these new features! I hope they are a blessing to you and that you will share them with your friends.
Have an awesome summer!!!
Adessa Holden is an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God specializing in Women's Ministry. Together with her brother, Jamie, they manage 4One Ministries and travel the East Coast speaking, holding conferences, and producing Men's and Women's resources that provide practical Biblical teaching for everyday life.
When asked about herself, she'll tell you "I'm a women's minister, a sister, and a daughter. I love to laugh and spend time with people. My favorite things are chocolate, the ocean, sandals and white capris, anything purple, summertime and riding in the car listening to music. It is my absolute honor and privilege to serve Jesus and women through this ministry."
