The Accumulation Effect: Why I'm Focusing on Micro-Savings Instead of Massive Budget Moves

image: Katie Harp on Unsplash

Sometimes our lives are peppered with blockbuster money-savers. And other times there's nothing stunning about the way we are living out our frugal lifestyle. This week's frugal efforts have seemed less than engaging. Nonetheless, it's these run-of-the-mill activities that save our wallets the most. 

We need to be honest. There's likely just one or two ways any of us will save tens of thousands of dollars in one fell swoop. And there are only a handful of ways we can save one to five thousand dollars. But there are endless ways we can save a few dollars a pop.

In reflecting upon this past week, I really couldn't think of anything in particular that I'd done or accomplished that met the definition of frugality. I certainly didn't buy or sell real estate this past week. And I didn't buy a car or large appliance, nor did I DIY a fantastic project around the house. But what I did do kept us on our financial track. It wasn't a spendy week. In fact, as average of a week it was, I maintained my own values throughout. 

Here are some of my micro-savings for the week:

• I cooked all meals from scratch, and that in itself is a huge money-saver. 
• When my daughter had her wisdom teeth extracted on Wednesday, I cooked up a bunch of very soft foods for her. And we reused ice packs that we already had to minimize swelling in her face. I was her driver, and it was an early appointment. I could have driven through Starbucks and no one would have faulted me for wanting a drink to take into the waiting room. Instead, I packed up my breakfast smoothie into a small canning jar to sip while I worked on some things on my laptop.
• I used a timer for watering the garden, so I watered each area a precise amount and didn't waste water. To help compensate for the water I am using on the garden I took very brief showers each morning. And I saved produce rinsing water to pour over the potted plants on the deck.
• I made the most of our garden produce. Many of our meals focused on garden produce this week. For example, today's lunch was leftover scratch baked beans with a side of garlicky Swiss chard and a bowl of garden raspberries. I've also been freezing raspberries all week to use in smoothies this fall. I harvested a second batch of oregano and dried it for winter use. A few apples have been knocked off the trees. I picked them up, chopped them and froze to use in winter.
• We were running low on laundry detergent, and I didn't have plans to go to the grocery store for a few more days. So, I used about half of my normal amount, both stretching the detergent to last until I shopped and saving a little money in the process. Bonus-- I hung-dry part of the laundry on two clothes racks.
• The weather is pleasantly warm this week. While I was hot in the kitchen cooking dinner last night and tonight, instead of turning on the box fan, I opened windows on opposite walls to bring in some fresh air. It was just cooling enough for the day. Cross ventilation with open windows is free.
• All of our entertainment for the week happened right here at home and cost nothing. We watched movies for free with free streaming services and borrowed DVDs. We listened to the non-premium Spotify, the level that plays ads periodically and is restricted to shuffle play. We took walks on trails within our neighborhood, and enjoyed the beauty of summer in the garden and under the stars.
• I piggy-backed a prescription pick-up for my daughter at Walmart's pharmacy on Thursday onto my weekly shopping at Walmart, shopping strictly by a list. I took care of two errands at one time by delaying the grocery shopping by a couple of days until I would be able to get the prescription filled. I saved gas and time.

My week may have not had sensational frugal moments. However, I stayed the course. When you add the smoothie from home instead of a drive through, the water savings, the gas savings, the meals all cooked from scratch, and the free entertainment, these little choices become a steady stream. Sure it would have been great if I could have saved my family thousands of dollars this week. But frugality isn't just about drastic budget overhauls; it's about the nondescript micro-decisions that protect our time and our wallets. The small stuff really does add up.

I'd love to hear from you. What is one micro-saving habit or small frugality you practiced this week? Share in the comments.