Me, but make it AI

In a recent miscellany post, I said that I wasn’t too worried about AI coming for my blogging job, mainly because what I write is so personal vs. just informational.

Someone in the comments suggested I should have AI write a blog post for me and I remembered my friend Katy had done that before just for fun.

So I hopped on over to ChatGPT and asked it to write a blog post in the style of The Frugal Girl.

I also asked it to generate some pictures for me.

You are in for a TREAT. 😉

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How I Saved $200 This Month Without Feeling Deprived

One of the best parts of frugal living is that it doesn’t have to feel like deprivation. Small changes, done consistently, can add up to big savings without making life miserable. This past month, I challenged myself to be more mindful of my spending, and I was able to save over $200 without feeling like I was missing out. Here’s how I did it:

1. Grocery Shopping with a Plan – Saved $50

I used to grocery shop without a list, which always led to impulse purchases. This month, I meal planned every week and only bought what I needed.

I also checked my pantry before heading to the store, which prevented duplicate purchases. Those little changes saved me about $50!

2. Making Coffee at Home – Saved $30

I love a good café latte, but at $5 a pop, they add up quickly!

This month, I committed to making my coffee at home. I even frothed my own milk for a special touch. Honestly, it tasted just as good, and I saved at least $30 by skipping the coffee shop.

3. No-Spend Weekend – Saved $40

Instead of eating out or shopping for entertainment, we planned a no-spend weekend. We went for a hike, had a game night, and made homemade pizza. It was a fun, relaxing weekend, and we didn’t miss spending money at all. That’s an easy $40 saved.

4. Canceling a Subscription – Saved $20

I realized I wasn’t using one of my streaming services much, so I canceled it. With so many free entertainment options (hello, library books and YouTube tutorials!), I haven’t missed it one bit. That’s another $20 staying in my pocket every month.

5. Using What I Have – Saved $60

This was a big one! Instead of buying new things, I made a point to use what I already owned. I cooked meals from pantry staples, wore clothes I hadn’t reached for in a while, and used up my half-empty bottles of shampoo before buying more. These little habits helped me avoid unnecessary purchases, adding up to at least $60 in savings.

The Takeaway

Saving money doesn’t have to mean living a joyless life. By making small, mindful choices, I was able to cut $200 from my spending without feeling deprived. If you’re looking to trim your budget, start with one or two of these ideas and see how much you can save!

What are your favorite easy ways to save money? I’d love to hear them in the comments!

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Ok! I’m back. It’s me now. Hi. 😉

I do appreciate that Chat GPT picked up on how much I like to use exclamation marks (ha), and I like how it put a comment prompt at the end like I always do. But other than that, it doesn’t feel very much like ME.

Katy and I got a giggle out of it, though.

It was an entertaining experiment, but at this point, I remain unworried about AI replacing me as a blogger. 😉

It is interesting to consider what the future holds, though. Will we all become accustomed to consuming content that isn’t real? Will there be a backlash to this, where people are extra-drawn to things that are less fake and less polished?

Who knows?

Regardless, I do have assurance that AI will never be taking over the bedside care that nurses do. So no matter what happens with blogging, I will not be jobless in the future!

What are your thoughts? And how did you like the ChatGPT version of me??

P.S. I was trying to decide what category to click for this post when I was writing it. I considered “guest posts”? Because ChatGPT is the guest writer? Ha.