Every month I come to you with a 30ish days’ worth of dinner ideas. Now that the weather is warm, we’re happily using our grill as much as possible so as not to heat up the kitchen too much. We’re also eating some cold meals that don’t require any cooking at all. This month there are two holidays that might affect your meal plans: Mother’s Day and Memorial Day. I’ve linked to some recipe ideas on the calendar for Mother’s Day, but for Memorial Day, why not check out my list of ideas for grilled meat? There’s nothing better than getting together with a bunch of people and cooking out!
Southern Savers FREE May 2026 Monthly Meal Plan
I’ve found an ingredient that is new to me that I’m now trying to incorporate it into as many recipes as possible. That ingredient is Gochujang spicy red chili paste. It’s an ingredient often used in Korean recipes and I can’t get enough of it. I couldn’t find it at my grocery store, because we live in the middle of nowhere, but I was able to order it on Amazon. A little goes a long way, so one container will last a long time. I’m going to try a recipe with noodles and then also a rice bowl.
Download the FREE May 2026 Monthly Meal Plan here!
Looking for a more meaningful, curated Mother’s Day gift? Head to Etsy where you can get handcrafted gifts at great prices!
You can give meaningful and thoughtful gifts without spending a lot of money. What matters to the recipient is that you thought of them when choosing the gift.
Deal Ideas:
Floral Custom Portrait In A Wreath Starting at $18.39
Personalized Family Tree Tomato Fridge Magnet Gift Idea Starting at $23.04
Personalized Book Stamp $10.56+ (reg. $19.20+)
Plant Mom Wall Art Print Printable $4.49
If you’re at Walgreens this week, check out this easy deal. Score a pair of Japonesque Nail Clippers for just $1.99 after an eCoupon!
This is an easy deal to grab in store or online.
Walgreens Beauty Tools Deal (ends 5/2):
- Japonesque Fingernail Clipper and File, $3.99
-$2 off Japonesque Beauty Tools, April Walgreens store ecoupon eCoupon
(makes it $1.99)
Check out more great Walgreens deals.
Right now at Kohl’s Sephora, get 25% off the super-popular Sol de Janeiro sets!
This would make a great Mother’s Day gift!
Get the Deal:
Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Jet Set $34 (reg. $40)
Sol de Janeiro Cheirosa Perfume Mist Discovery Gift Set $36 (reg. $40)
Sol de Janeiro Sundays in Rio Warm Vanilla Hair & Body Perfume Mist $18.20 (reg. $26)
This deal is good through 5/3. Shipping is free on orders $49+ or you may be able to get free store pickup.
Get deals on select sandals at Woot! This includes styles from popular brands like Birkenstock and FitFlop!
Deal Ideas
OOFOS OOriginal Recovery Sandal $49.99 (reg. $69.99)
This offer is good thru 5/4 while supplies last. Shipping is free when you login using your Prime credentials.
Read More→
Here’s a list of the Publix unadvertised deals I found at my store this week! Get good deals on Siete taco shells, Olive Garden croutons, and more.
Closeout deals will vary by store. Look through the full Publix weekly ad to see all the current deals.
Closeout Deals
- Manini’s Gluten Free Spinach & Cheese Ravioli, $3.74
- Williamson Bros. Bar B Q Sauce, $2.49
- Mezzetta Pizza Sauce, 14 oz, $1.54
- Welch’s Variety Pack Drink Mix, $2.91
- Taco Bell Creamy Crunch Dip Supreme, 15 oz, $2.49
- Rumford Baking Powder, 4oz, 99¢
- Platinum Superior Baking Yeast, 3 ct, 85¢
- Bob’s red mill Tapioca Flour, 16 oz, $1.95
- Bob’s Red mill Sorghum Flour, 22 oz, $1.84
- Bob’s Red Mill Stone Ground White Rice Flour, 24 oz, $2.19
- King Arthur’s Neapolitan Style 00 Pizza Flour, $2.95
- King Arthur Self Rising Flour, $2.36
- Kentucky Kernel Onion Ring Batter Mix, 9 oz, $1.14
- Hooters Wing Breading, $1.59
- Everglades All Purpose Breader, $1.01
- Filippo Berio Basil Pesto Vegan, 7 oz, $2.74
- Mama Francesca Parmesan Cheese, $2.09
- AZO Urinary Pain Relief Maximum Strength, 24 ct, $7.49
- Kaopectate Soft Chews, 24 ct, $3.99
Kaopectate 42 ct Caplets $3.99 - Curalin Blood Sugar Advance SUpport, 90 ct, $15.99
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Children’s Advil Suspension, 4 oz, $3.19
-$1 off Advil Children’s Product (sign up) printable
-$2 off Advil Advil PM, Children’s Advil, Excedrin or Voltaren Item, (Publix Coupon), Extra Savings Flyer (EXP 5/1) printable
(use both, makes it 19¢) Read More→
Teacher Appreciation Week is coming up on May 4-8, 2026, so it’s time to start thinking about ways to express your thankfulness and respect if your kids have teachers of any kind. The week usually focuses on school teachers, but you might want to use this as an opportunity to thank piano teachers, sports coaches, or any other adults who impact your kids’ lives. However, if you do this, you may end up with many gifts to buy, depending on how many kids you have. Here are 10 frugal teacher appreciation ideas that will be meaningful to the teachers in your life but that won’t break the bank!
10 Teacher Appreciation Gift Ideas
A handwritten note or card
If you were to ask your child’s teacher what they love most of all, it is handwritten notes or cards from their students and students’ parents. This is by far the most frugal option for teacher appreciation, but you can also pair it with one of the ideas below.
A gift card
After a few years of teaching, most teachers have enough coffee mugs and tchotchkes. Give them a gift card to a place where they have the option to get something for their classroom or something they want for themselves. I’d recommend Walmart, Target, or Amazon, since regardless of where you live, teachers can shop online and get things delivered.
Something personalized
Consider getting them a notepad with their name on it, or something else for their classroom that is personalized. I love these cute personalized stamps.
Looking to stock up on salad dressing? Kroger has an eCoupon good for up to five uses in one transaction that will make Kraft Salad Dressing only $1.99 each!
Kroger Kraft Dressing Deal (ends 5/5):
- Kraft Salad Dressing, 14-16 oz, $2.99
-$1 off Kraft Salad Dressing 14-16 oz, use up to 5x per transaction, Kroger (exp 5/5) eCoupon
(makes it $1.99)
Check out the full Kroger ad for more great deal ideas.
Now is the time to stock up on beach towels for summer. Combine a sale with this coupon code to get towels starting at $8!
To get the deal, use code FAMILY25 at checkout. Plus, earn $10 Kohl’s Cash on every $50 you spend!
Deal Ideas:
The Big One® Oversized Turtles Beach Towel $13.99 (reg. $19.99)
– Use code FAMILY25 at checkout
Makes it $10.49
The Big One® Kids Butterfly Beach Towel $10.49 (reg. $14.99)
– Use code FAMILY25 at checkout
Makes it $7.86
This code is good through 5/3. Shipping is free on orders $49+. or you may be able to get free store pickup.
Read More→
