Trying to save money where I can

Since I am not working right now (and it looks like I won't be able to go back to tutoring before the first week in October), I am really trying to save money and do things that help our family budget. I am going to start documenting the things that have been frugal wins each week as they happen. I enjoy seeing how others save money and they inspire me to do the same, so maybe if I show how I save then that would be an inspiration to others. 

I went to Kroger on Friday because I had a coupon that was getting ready to expire on my card for the Free Farm Rich Boneless Chicken Bites. I got an email from them a few weeks ago, to load the coupon onto my loyalty card. I try to open all the emails from Kroger because you never know when they are going to email you a coupon you can load. In the past 2 months I have gotten a Free Angel Food Cake and the chicken. At a regular price of $6.99 for the box, I probably wouldn't buy the chicken, but for FREE I will add it to the freezer for a quick lunch for Bill and I or as a snack during football watching. 

Also I try to load their "Free Friday Download" each Friday if it is an item I would use. This past week's item was the Stride Gum. 

I also had received an email from Family Video that they missed me and in it was a coupon for a free rental and 1/2 price rentals for 2 weeks. I cashed in the coupon to rent "Me Before You" for me and to rent "Angry Birds" for the kids' movie night (paying $1.54 for the rental).

I received 2 books in the mail to review. One came with 2 copies so I can give one away (watch for that later) and the other came with a bookmark and a key chain.  

My neighbor dropped by on Sunday to see how I was doing and brought me this lovely bouquet of flowers. 

We were blessed to have several people bring meals for the first week after I was home from the hospital. On Saturday, another friend brought over a Bob Evans meal of turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans and rolls. It was very yummy and tasted wonderful! And we had enough leftover that I had lunch with it on Monday and tonight I used the leftover gravy and green beans to add to our chicken dinner.

I am really trying to be mindful of our spending (even more so that I normally do) and am of the mindset that even the little things I am doing now are helping our family's finances while I am not working. Gives me something to do that is not physical, but can help in little ways! 

Now I need to go organize my coupon stash and see if anything matches up this week! 

Have you had any frugal wins recently?