Excellent article! It’s possible to be frugal without going to extremes. Growing your own vegetables is a good idea but it does take a lot of hard work. Since I’m not interested in gardening, I wouldn’t choose to do this, but I know a couple who do grow most of their own vegetables, and they’ve saved a lot of money on their food bills. I cook most of our meals from scratch with fresh ingredients, partly because it saves money and partly because I enjoy it — it helps me relax and be mindful at the end of a busy day. You’ve got to find out what works best for you!