1 Frugal Life

Last post for a while

2010-11-15T13:39:00.000-08:00

I started this blog to catalog my journey day to day to be frugal. However, my other blog Frugal Moms Network is where I want to focus my energy. I might come back here and do more with this someday, but for now, I hope you will check out http://frugalmomsnetwork.blogspot.com for up to date information on living the frugal life. Join in the conversation. Thanks.

Eating out

2010-10-01T22:09:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I was reminded of why it is good to be frugal. My daughter was gone, so it was just my husband and me for dinner. My husband has gone through kidney stones this week and we have both been exhausted. I didn't want to cook last night and my husband said a sandwich sounded good from a local place. Since I knew he really hadn't had much of an appetite this week, I was more than willing to go get him whatever he wanted.

One of the things that we cut out was routinely eating out when we started cutting back. We both feel better, and the savings is significant. But this was special, a one time thing, so off I go. We haven't eaten at this place in a year and a half, or so. This particular place is a chain, and the food is good, but I was stunned when I walked in and realized that the two types of sandwiches we wanted were almost $5.00 each for a half size. No drinks, no chips, no cookies, just two small sandwiches. I got them, special occasion, one time thing and all, and brought them home.

I had my husband open his first and since he's ordered a tuna sandwich, asked me where the tuna was. They were pretty stingy for $5.00. Then he asked me how much it cost? I told him and he couldn't believe it. We both decided that we could do a LOT more with $10.00 and that we learned a great lesson. There is a good reason we don't eat there anymore.

I do want to add a little disclaimer here and tell you that we do eat out on occasion and once a while drive through is a good thing. However, we are very careful about what we get. Quiznos has their Sammies for $2.00. So, I don't mind grabbing one of those for us when evenings are hurried. That and a salad from home or piece of fruit makes a great light meal. Also, our local Safeway has a really good guy that cooks pretty good Chinese. By getting a meal deal for $6.00, we get two entries, rice, chow mein, potstickers, and fortune cookies. There is plenty of food for three people. So, I am in favor of eating out once in a while, but doing it frugally.

Do you have a favorite place you eat out? How do you do it frugally?

Tell us your success stories. Comment below.

Menus

2010-09-27T21:46:00.000-07:00

What are the things that get in the way of your menu planning, or organizing coupons. Today life got in the way and I didn't get anything done today. I don't like that because I start feeling scattered. I am detailed and organized, but I am a planner, and I am still learning what to do when I don't get something planned for dinner, or my family says that they really aren't in the mood for what I have planned. Monday night is usually a 4H night, so if I haven't started something early in the crockpot, it ends up being a fend for yourself night anyway. I try to have several items ready for suggestions and have all of the ingredients on hand. This is one planning aspect that I need to get better about. I am going to try and put a list together of Monday night go to meals and will post that as soon as I have it.

Just ask

2010-09-26T00:27:00.000-07:00

I grew up in the south. Appearances are very important in the south. My mother would probably be mortified to know that I am not afraid to negotiate for anything. And to speak up when I am charged a wrong amount. Somehow by using coupons and shopping sales, it might look like to others that we were frivolous with money.

I have been on my "frugal journey" now for 2 years or more. And one thing that I learned is that you cannot be afraid to ask. It took a little while for me to change that mindset. Perhaps some of you are the same way. If the grocery store charges you full price for the meat you just bought instead of the sale price, do you accept it and not say anything or do you ask if they can check on the price?

So here are some of the things that I have learned:

1. If you are using coupons at a store, tell the cashier up front, and apologize to anyone in line behind you for the delay.
2. If you are charged incorrectly for an item, have patience, take your receipt in and go to customer service, or get back in the cashiers line. Be polite, it's not their fault.
3. Ask friends and family about places to shop around for items. Recently I found out that I needed a heating core replaced on my car, which will cost more than $1000.00 at the dealer. At bible study on Wednesday I asked the group if they knew of someone that might be able to do the work for less.
If that gives you chills, let me clarify that you are not asking for a handout, and no one is going to think that you are poor or can't pay bills that come up.
4. When unexpected bills come up call immediately and negotiate. Both my husband and my daughter had health emergencies earlier this year, and the bills that came in were well beyond our monthly medical budget. As the small bills came in I paid them, and then as the larger ones came, I called and talked to the billing departments and told them what I could pay a month. In most cases, they were extremely generous and will work with anyone to let you pay over time. In some cases, I was also able to get some of the larger ones reduced.

Do you negotiate or ask for deals? Is it hard for you to do that? What have you been surprised that you've gotten by asking?

6 fashion pieces on The View

2010-09-16T23:41:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago an editor from Marie Claire appeared on The View to show 6 must have items for your closet. What she said was the these 6 pieces can create a weeks worth of outfits going from day to night, casual to dressy. The grand total came to $390.75.

My frugal senses took over and I thought I would task my daughter to find 6 items that were comparable to these and see what bargains she could find.

I will post as soon as she is done. I can't wait to see what she finds.

Here is the link to the segment if you are interested in seeing the items. http://www.metacafe.com/watch/hl-50074662/the_view_closet_cleanse_season_13/

Back to School

2010-09-10T00:13:00.000-07:00

I probably should explain why I haven't posted any resources or information on frugal back to school spending. First, it is important to note that we homeschool, and are in a co-op where my daughter attends school two half days a week. She is in high school so she doesn't need the same type of supplies that many other school require. We purchased composition notebooks at the dollar store, several grid notebooks for Geometry at Staples on sale, and some new jeans at our favorite designer jean consignment store. Other than that we recycle year to year or simply don't need.

Second, there are a number of wonderful blog sites written by great mommy bloggers that offer detailed school supply sales.

I will be blogging about high school activities and other things, and how to do those frugally. So look for those posts coming soon if you have a teen.

Grocery Outlet

2010-09-01T14:00:00.000-07:00

I think I shared in a previous post a while back, that I used to be a grocery store snob. I thought grocery outlets were places where dented cans went to die, and meat was sold after it had expired. Well all of that changed for me when we started our frugal journey. I have become a huge fan.

Here is another reason why: when money wasn't tight, I bought Frosted Mini Wheats in a name brand box that was very expensive. My husband and daughter love to put fruit on theirs and eat it all of the time. I started trying the store brand versions and found one that was $2.49 a box. I was buying 4-5 boxes at a time. My husband also would take a box to work and buy a small milk from the cafeteria and eat it for breakfast and/or lunch. Prices went up to $2.79, but for a while I could still get it on sale. I started looking at other alternatives and tried a 50oz. bag of the Malt-o-meal brand for around $5.00. That was a huge savings. So, I've been buying that and both my husband and daughter said it's very good. I just looked at the Grocery Outlet circular that I got today and the same bag that I buy is $2.99.

So not counting the name brand, the store brand was $2.49 on sale for 18 oz. That is .14 an oz. The 50 oz at $5.00 is .10 an oz. That's still a good savings. But the 50 oz at 2.99 is .06 cents an ounce.

I make a list of things that I buy all the time. I don't "stock up" necessarily because we go through it so fast. So, I know that if I buy several of these that they will not go to waste and I will have made a huge savings. So adding up the number of cereal boxes I normally buy in a month - looking at my receipts, and multiplying that savings out for the rest of the year, I end up saving a good amount of money.

One of the hardest things for me to do was to look at things over time. In reality the savings on the cereal is a couple of dollars. But if you keep track of what you save, you will find over time it adds up to huge amounts. So much so, that the larger chains are putting your savings right on the bottom of your receipt.

Another grocery is bread. My husband is very particular about his bread. I buy it just for him, it's 7 grain, he doesn't like any other brand, or kind of bread, and it never goes on sale. I hate paying $4.19 a loaf, but I haven't found an alternative that he likes so I put it in the grocery budget.

Recently, his father went with him to the grocery store and showed him 7 grain bread from the stores bakery made fresh every day. It was half the cost of the other bread. Now he loves it and I can buy it fresh and save money. I noticed that it lasted just as long as the other packaged bread, and that the loaves were the same size.

Another great savings. What have you found recently that you changed brands on and saved money.

Groupon/Coupons

2010-08-18T11:57:00.000-07:00

Have you heard of Josh Stevens? You might soon if he wins the Groupon challenge by living off of nothing but Groupon coupons for a year. Of course this is to the extreme and he is single, agreed to the restrictions of the challenge, and even quit his job to do this. So, this will not work if you have kids, and have to pay for school stuff, and get back and forth to jobs. However, after reading the article and the comments, I don't think some of the people were getting that the idea was to show how you can use Groupon in many situations. Do you use it? Would you try and live off of coupons for a month? Have you ever tried anything like this? Read the article and then tell me what you think.

http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2010/08/17/man-to-live-off-coupons-for-a-year/#comments

Another great resource

2010-08-10T23:07:00.000-07:00

Check out this website I found. www.billshrink.com. Fill out information on cell phones, credit cards, cable services, even gas and billshrink does all of the comparing in seconds. I included information on my car, to see how accurate it is. It came back with 6 closest gas stations and compared then by distance, and price per gallon and the gas station that I know has the the lowest price came up as number one. There is also a blog that offers some good tips on saving money.

Check it out and let me know what you think.

A great resource on expiration dates

2010-08-06T23:25:00.000-07:00

This is a great article on certain foods that can be used well past their expiration date. I have been a bit of a fraidy cat about that, I must admit. However, once I started cooking and eating more frugally, I have adopted a more lax attitude about expiration dates. Especially on dry goods, canned goods and spices. Eggs, milk and other items, I am still a little more strict on.

The article also mentions a website that offers guidelines for expiration dates that I found very helpful.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38582178/ns/health-food_safety/

2010-07-30T22:06:00.000-07:00

Another great resource.

http://iamwickedcheap.com/

Finding time to be frugal

2010-07-30T22:04:00.000-07:00

http://www.econobusters.com/?p=5003

This is a great article from Econobusters about how she makes time to be frugal. It's excellent. Be sure to scroll down and read the comments there are more ideas there too.

Are you frugal:?
How do you stay frugal?

Coupon Mom on Oprah

2010-07-26T22:10:00.000-07:00

This week Oprah is running her "best of" episodes. Thursday the 29th she will be rerunning Coupon Mom from October 2009. Be sure and watch it. I do a lot of my couponing from her book. In the meantime, if you aren't familiar with the Coupon Mom, check her out at www.couponmom.com.

Frugal Fashion

2010-07-22T19:59:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine asked me the other day if I minded giving up all of the luxuries just to be frugal. I told her that I don't feel like I am giving anything up at all. Sometimes, I make a choice to do without something, or if I want something I might have to save up for it, because I no longer have the convenience of a credit card. I like nice things, and one of the nice things that I like is the skin care from The Body Shop. I used to buy a lot of it when I had credit cards, but now, I still get the items I want, but I wait until the clearance sales to get them. I also faithfully use my rewards card. You get a point for every $20.00 you spend after 8 you get $25.00 to spend on products, and all of the items I get during the sales count. So, I buy items at the $3 for $30 or at 50% off, making them more comparable to drugstore prices. Then when I build up to my 8 points, I usually go in and talk to one of the sales people and tell her what I want, and that I have built up 8 points. I always ask what the best way to get the best bang for my buck is. I attached a recent sales receipt to show how much the savings added up to.

Another great resource

2010-06-28T15:24:00.000-07:00

Here is another great resource that I subscribe to. There is a lot of really good information in this newsletter.

http://www.homemoneyhelp.com/BSNL0062810.html

Receipt

2010-06-22T23:19:00.000-07:00

Here is a recent receipt that I copied to show you the type of savings that you can achieve with a little bit of effort. These are items that I would buy anyway, or a deal that was worth the savings.

As you can see by the receipt, I bought almost nothing that wasn't on sale or had a coupon. My total savings added up to $52.08 off the total bill. Some things to note. My husband only likes one type of bread, Franz 7 grain that costs $4.19. Rarely, do I catch it on sale.

Also, you will see some supplements on the receipt. I normally don't buy those type of things as the grocery store chains because they are more expensive, however they were having a BOGO free so I went ahead and got them.

I have read both Coupon Mom's book and Miserly mom's book. They both have equally good but opposite approaches. The coupon mom's system consists of throwing out name brands and going with the cheapest, and Miserly Mom's is that it's all in the planning, using coupons and sales to plan menus.

What I am finding after reading both books, is that I subscribe to both ideas. Depending on whether or not we are brand loyal, and can find the item on sale, or what I plan for menus for a particular week, and then shopping the sales to get the best deals. I recommend reading both books, simply because there are great ideas in both books and both are excellent systems to follow.

I hope you find this helpful and would love to hear feedback.

More to come.....

New post

2010-06-19T15:35:00.000-07:00

Hello all, sorry I haven't posted in a little while. I have been struggling to decide what I wanted to do with this little blog and just where I wanted it to go. I have been working on some ideas and am excited to say that there will be some new features coming very soon. I believe that there is a place for this blog and that it has something valuable to offer.

I am still on this journey of a frugal life, and hope that you will join me, share your successes as well as your failures because I promise to do the same.

The next post will be of one of the successes. Look for it and let me know what you think.

Make a $1 coupon stretch for 7 days

2010-05-20T15:00:00.000-07:00

This is a great article from RedPlum on taking a $1 coupon and stretching it out for 7 days.

http://www.redplum.com/Pages/ViewArticle.aspx?articleid=3821

Living the lifestyle

2010-05-12T18:05:00.000-07:00

The more I learn about frugal living, the more determined I am that I am going to live a frugal lifestyle. I don't deprive my family of anything. In fact, as a big treat we had steak last night for dinner that my husband grilled to perfection. The grill we bought as a closeout model last season, it had been a demo, so we paid less than $100.00 dollars. They even took it apart for us to fit it in our car properly. We have friends that own a business and they fill huge things of propane, so I asked if I could send our empty canisters and they fill them for cheap because of the volume. So, as I was shopping for groceries, a few days ago, my local store was having a huge sale on meat. The steaks I wanted were close to $40.00 retail and were on sale for $15.00. Although that was a good price, there were two that had bones, so I asked the meat guy to cut the bones out. When he reweighed it, I'd saved another couple of dollars. I also got 4 fresh ears of corn for $1.60. And I had a coupon for baked beans. So, we had a huge treat last night, for about $5.00 per person. During the weekdays, I shoot for $2.50 per person or less. With the left over steak, I sliced it very thin, into long strips, and the same store had ready made caesar salad kits which are normally $3.99, on sale for half price. So tonight, we will have steak salad and that will bring the per person price down yet again.

When I look at the options, I know that in most cases it is a lot cheaper to "make your own." However, I knew we were going to be busy today, and since it was on sale it was keeping the cost down.

My next post is going to talk about cleaning with baking soda and vinegar.

What have you splurged on lately and still stayed frugal?

The frugal Derby

2010-05-01T21:47:00.000-07:00

I had to smile today at the fact that even the Kentucky Derby is going frugal. The horse that won was named Super Saver.

100 frugal ideas from moms

2010-04-29T23:08:00.001-07:00

Here is a great list of 100 money savings ideas from RedPlum.

100 Things My Mom Told Me About Saving

The biggest way we’ll be celebrating Mother’s Day this year is by sharing the wealth—that is, the wealth of incredible savings knowledge that’s been handed down from moms around the country. We’ve asked RedPlum readers—online, in person, on Twitter and Facebook—to tell us the best advice their mom gave them about spending less and getting more. Now listen to your mother...

A good deal is not a good deal if you didn't need the item in the first place.
Skip store credit cards-- you don't need them!
If you loan money to a friend, never expect to see it again.
Never pay an annual fee on a credit card; you can find plenty of good ones for free.
Don't borrow against your 401K.
Turn down the heat and put on socks. The extra money can go towards a new purse!
Use cash only for groceries to avoid impulsive buys.
The value of what really matters. Holly Buchannan of Marketingtowomenonline.com
It's not a bargain if you do not wear it. Laura of Hollywoodhousewives.com
Menu plan for the week. Bay Staley of Queenmotherblog.com
Never use wrapping paper. Claire Williams of savemoneyplan.com
Rich people will bend over and pick up a penny and poor people with walk on by. Kelly of 3boysandadog.com
Shop clearance racks; never pay full price. Brianna Carter of Bargainbrianna.com.
Shut off lights; ever waste food; shop at thrift stores. Linda of Glutenfreehomemaker.com
If it is not at least 50 percent off it is not worth buying …….Everything goes on sale. Marsha of Othersuchhappenings.com
Make sure you know what you already have before you leave the house to go shopping. Sherri of Queenoffree.com
Shop dollar stores, usually same products cheaper and use coupons! Twitter user Cassidrm
Put a dab of toothpaste to dry out a pimple! Twitter user Jensosinfull
Always head for the clearance rack first. Twitter user ProverbsWife
Mom told me to never use a credit card but if I have to, pay it off RIGHT AWAY. never let interest accrue. Twitter user BoldRach4X
Mom says never pinch money when it comes to health. Always reuse plastic bags as trash bags! Twitter user. JARmob
Take the wrapper from butter sticks, freeze them, and use to grease a pan for cooking instead of spray. Twitter user TreasureCoupons
Don't buy it if you don't need it or won't use it! Twitter user LadyRiposter
Mom always told me never to take on a payment that is more than one of my paychecks. Twitter user Buttmuffin
Don't be afraid to spend money on quality! One great pair of jeans is better than 10 so-so pairs. Twitter user ADramaticMommy
Cook once for two or three days Shop by volume price and sales. ALWAYS shop with coupons and a list. Twitter user sthrnfairytale
Don't buy clothes, even on clearance, unless you really like them because every time you wear, you think of what's wrong. Twitter user luv2bfrugal
Always head for the clearance rack first. Twitter user ProverbsWife
The best money saving tip I learned from my mom is how to substitute nearly EVERYTHING in recipes! Twitter user GatewaytoSaving
Clip those coupons! Twitter user lag32583
My mom taught me how to stretch food & choose frugal recipes. I also watched her clip coupons & now I clip them too. Twitter user justdoingmybest
My mom taught me to stack coupons with sales items & to stock up when things were on sale. Twitter user ladcraig
Everything on sale is not necessarily a good deal. If you buy it & don't need/use it, you are wasting $$$ Twitter user LissaL
Mom always says to plan before you go!! she is right, I always spend less if I plan it out!!! Twitter user PointClickSave
Always keep a podgie, which is basically a hidden place for extra money so you will never be broke. Twitter user jane4girls
Look up and down not just at eye level at the grocery store. Twitter user BudgetSavingMom
Do not buy paper towels---I know gasp! Twitter user swappinspoons
Use two coupons when you buy BOGO items and save a ton! Twitter user afewshortcuts
Money saved using coupons that you would have spent without them, put in savings account. Twitter user ThriftyMamaB
Use zero balance budgeting! Pay yourself first. Twitter user iamamoneymagnet
My biggest saving tip, is to cut your dryer sheets in half. They still work the same, but you can double the box life. Twitter user DomesticDebacle
I do the same with my face cleaning wipes! Works just as well! Twitter user TrendyBindi
I learned saving tips from my mom by doing the exact opposite of everything she did. Twitter user mommyswishlist
My #1 money saving tip. Don't buy what you don't NEED. Realize that NEEDS and WANTS are different Twitter user RaisingOlives
Use 20 percent of your budget to stockpile & 80 percent to get you through the week. Soon, you'll have enough stockpiled; just replenish each week! Twitter user INGoodCents
Menu plan. Just come up with some stand-by recipes, have the ingredients and you can fall back on them. Nix take-out! Twitter user queenmotherblog
Never go grocery shopping hungry! You will come back home with half the store! Twitter user amycimino
Always save for a rainy day. don't spend all that you earn right away! Twitter user JARmob
My mom taught me to make do with what you have, or re-make an existing possession, before you purchase something new. Twitter user MyCousinMos
My mom taught me to check the price per ounce on items to see which size is a better deal Twitter user pameladonnis
Just don't buy anything dad put on the list. his latest was bacon, Quik, and ice cream, Twitter user carrieactually
My mom taught me to use the library before I went to a bookstore. Twitter user storylaura
Don't spend what you don't have! Avoid credit card debt & save for a rainy day. Twitter user PineappleBabble
Don't shop when hungry or you'll buy too much! Twitter user lizzydear
Meal plan and use your kitchen! Twitter user faithfulprov
DO NOT take your kids shopping with you AND take a list Twitter user 3PsinaPod
Never pay full price! Research, plan and prioritize. Twitter user madamedeals
Act your WAGE!! Twitter user kingdomfirstmom
Don't spend what you don't have! Twitter user jane4girls
My mom had so many!! One of her top tips was clipping coupons and doing rebates. Twitter user hardertobreathe
Stack manufacturer coupons with store coupons and sales. Twitter user thesavingqueen
Buy clothes for the boys off season and save a lot. Twitter user PotamusPrefers
Buy just what is necessary, not for the sake of buying it. Ravi, CT
Love what you have, then you'll have what you want. Dave, NC
A good pair of shoes is very important. You don’t need a lot of shoes; just a few good pairs.” Cindy, MI
For every penny you spend, make sure you put two away for a rainy day!" Tammy, WI
You will be happy if you live within your means. Jane, CT
Expect the worse so you are happy with even the tiniest bit of good. Judy, MI
Wait until after the holiday to stock up on clearance items for next year. Shannon, CT
Use it up, wear it out, make it do, do without! (My mom grew up in the Depression. Needless to say, she was recycling way before anyone else.) Kate, CT
If you can not pay for it at the end of the month, then do not buy it. Tim, GA
…to spend…” Cassandra, MA
Put other people first. Holly Buchannan of Marketingtowomenonline.com
Spend more on less, not less on more.
Never buy something simply because someone you know has it. That's a reason not to buy it! Borrow it.
If you're not sure you need it, sleep on it.
No purchase means more than your family's peace of mind.
Don't pay more for pre-cut veggies or pre-shredded cheese. Instead, make chopping a chore once your kids are old enough.
Managing your money is nothing to be scared of...unless you're not doing it.
You may be “worth it” but make sure the splurge is worth it, too.
When you're updating your wardrobe, choose expensive pieces in black, inexpensive items in trendier colors.
Freeze and can when items are fresh!
Cook in bulk on Sundays to stock up for the week.
Don't be afraid to be the only one not spending.
Rainy days come more often than you think.
Don't assume you'll always be able to earn what you earn now.
When you get a raise, send it straight to savings.
Never buy the most house you can afford.
Watch out when adding recurring bills. They cost more than you realize.
Just because you can buy it, doesn't mean you should.
Never carry your keys in your coat pocket. It will make them wear out before the coat does.
Always remember, the price of an item is merely a suggestion. The actual price is only what YOU are willing to spend on it.
Understand the difference between an expense and an investment; an expense just costs money, an investment costs money and makes money.
Take care of the pennies and the pounds will take care of themselves.
Before you make a big purchase…..sleep on it.
Buy a programmable thermostat and wear a sweater.
Beware of little expenses; a small leak will sink a great ship; and much more.
Animals aren't a good investment! They're not going to take care of you in your old age.
You don't need the latest technology right away. Let other people be the test pilots.
Don't be embarassed to use coupons. Be embarassed when you pay too much!

Tuesday Tip

2010-04-27T00:56:00.000-07:00

Today's Frugal Tip: Check the sale tags. If an item is normally $5.00, and today it is on sale for 3 for $10.00, read the fine print to see if you have to buy 3 to get the sale price. In most cases, you don't. Also, if you want 6 of the sale item, make sure the sale tag doesn't say "on your first 3." Otherwise, the 4th one will be regular price.

Jamie Chase Master Couponer

2010-04-26T19:37:00.000-07:00

Jamie Chase was just featured on Nightly News as being a "Master Couponer." Here is a great article on her.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2010/02/25/amesbury_woman_is_master_of_the_clip_and_save/

More ways to save

2010-04-20T00:22:00.000-07:00

With so much going on this season, it's expensive to put down deposits on camp, spring activities, yearbooks, and everything else that we have to pay for.

I spent some time yesterday on a new website that I just love. The following is an unsolicited recommendation and is my opinion only. The website is www.shopathome.com. There is lots to explore on the site, and you can customize all of the coupons and deals that you want to see, add wish lists, and even get cash back. There is also a huge list of freebies that you can try. As I get them in the mail, I will post them here.

Check out the website, and let me know what you think.

Free Samples

2010-04-13T01:49:00.001-07:00

Did you know that www.walmart.com has a page where you can request free samples?

Check out the link here: http://instoresnow.walmart.com/In-Stores-Now-Free-Samples.aspx

The real price of Produce

2010-04-08T00:49:00.001-07:00

This was from NBC Nightly news yesterday.

Groceries are all going up, but some produce is skyrocketing. Because of the freeze in Florida, the earthquake in Chile and floods in California and Mexico, Green Peppers have gone up 109%, watermelon will cost you 90% more and tomatoes a whopping 182%.

This is another great reason to plant your own.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/#36059531

2010-03-24T11:02:00.000-07:00

I love www.ppgazette.com. The site is a great coupon site with printable coupons for groceries. But the reason I love it, is that there are recipes, and if you scroll down to the bottom of the page you will find a link to local grocery circulars. You can type your zip code in and then a list of stores will come up. All of the sale things are listed. And you can compare stores against each other and see who has the best deals. Check it out and let me know what you think.

This information is my opinion only and I received no compensation or special treatment from the person or company above.

It never hurts to ask

2010-03-23T11:14:00.000-07:00

It never hurts to ask. Our doctor prescribed an antibiotic that I'd never heard of for my daughter. It was a new doctor, so I wasn't familiar with how he did things. We got to the pharmacy to pick up the medicine and the co-pay, yes I said co-pay was $250.00. That was for 14 days of medicine. My frugal side kicked in immediately and I called the doctors office and asked if there was an alternative that was just as good. When they called in the new medicine the co-pay was .67. Yep, 67 cents.

With all of the talk about healthcare in recent days, this seemed like an appropriate post. I wonder how many people take it for granted and then pay these enormous copays thinking that they have to.

One thing that helps tremendously is that we have a small town pharmacy. They have been around forever and all of the people there know us. So no matter where you live big city or small town, make friends with the pharmacist. They can be a major advocate for you. In this case, the pharmacy was the first line of defense, so as I recovering my voice after they told me what the copay was, they told me to call the doctor and ask for an alternative that was cheaper. I am sure that they already knew there was, but can't recommend one drug over another.

Do you question the doctor? Do you ask for cheaper alternatives? Do you think frugally even at the doctors office?

Let me know if anything like this has ever happened to you.

Today Only!

2010-03-16T10:15:00.001-07:00

Just got an email that all of the Entertainment Books are on sale for $17. They are normally $35. This offer is in honor of St Patricks Day and only last for 17 hours.

Here is the link.

http://www.entertainment.com/discount/home.shtml

Menu Planning

2010-02-08T00:32:00.001-08:00

This is a great resource from Molly at Econobusters. She has a great blog, that is worth a look. Click on the link to the right.

www.econobusters.com

twitter

2010-02-05T23:07:00.001-08:00

Are you following me on twitter? I watch all of the coupons and deals that come across and retweet those, along with any I find.

http://twitter.com/1frugallife

Alice

2010-02-03T00:50:00.000-08:00

Have you met Alice yet?

www.alice.com

20% off entire order at Big Lots

2010-01-26T16:34:00.001-08:00

http://www.biglots.com/coupon/buzzclubcoupon.aspx

Coupon Mom

2010-01-25T11:32:00.001-08:00

I have read the new Coupon Mom book cover to cover, made notes, highlighted areas and found so much great info. I have been doing some of this to an extent, but this is power saving...If you can embrace her methods, and spend a little time, then you are going to save like you have never saved before. So, I rummaged around and found some 3 X 5 cards and started the process on Saturday.

I will keep my progress up to date here and as I go through the methods that the book recommends. Would love to have feedback from anyone else who is going through the book.

I also decided to make another change since I was starting the Coupon Mom process. I have gone back to the cash and envelope method for groceries. That way, I know what I have to spend exactly and can budget easier.

It's a new year, so it's time to make some new changes and this one I think is a great one.

I am so excited these days when I end up with big savings on the bill. I love coming home to share it with my family.

Until next time.....

Peanuts

2010-01-23T17:23:00.001-08:00

I admit I love pecans, almonds, cashews, and Brazil Nuts. I keep waiting for the nuts to go on sale and then I buy them as a treat. I finally got smart and started looking for bags of nuts for cooking and baking. As with any holiday, baking items go on sale and almonds and pecans are two things on sale. I checked the prices in the baking aisle against the bulk prices, and found that around holidays the bagged nuts in the baking aisle are cheaper. Check your local stores and see if you find the same thing.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPod

Meal Planning

2010-01-22T12:28:00.001-08:00

Now this is organized.

http://www.kirotv.com/video/22313063/

Valentine's Day

2010-01-21T10:35:00.001-08:00

Here is a nice gift basket from Walmart, for only $19.

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=13339406

It can be personalized with a note added.

Another resource

2010-01-19T01:06:00.001-08:00

Here is another great resource. Check out www.savings.com for great deals on a variety of items.

Coupon Mom

2010-01-14T22:39:00.001-08:00

Do you read the Coupon Mom's blog. I subscribe to it and read it all the time, there are great tips and coupons.

Stephanie Nelson, the Coupon Mom also has a new book out. "The Coupon Mom's Guide to Cutting Your Grocery Bills in Half: The Strategic Method Proven to Slash Food and Drugstore Costs."

It's available everywhere now in both hard copy and ebook. My thought was to get it in ebook form, because my ipod comes with me everywhere and has my grocery lists on it as well. That way I can always refer to it while I am shopping.

Will you get her book? Have you already gotten it? I would love to know what your thoughts are and if the method she writes about works for you.

Splurge

2010-01-13T20:11:00.001-08:00

What do you splurge on when you are buying groceries? I have to admit mine is junkfood. I still use my coupons and shop the sales, but once in a while my hubby loves to see ice cream or cookies in the grocery bag.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPod

2009-11-05T21:06:00.000-08:00

Another great website for bargains.

www.smartbargains.com

2009-10-23T01:39:00.001-07:00

Using Scribe Fire to edit posts. Ignore this post.

Great article about bargaining

2009-10-15T19:29:00.001-07:00

http://www.stumbleupon.com/s/#9S9YLo/www.momlogic.com/2009/10/drive_a_hard_bargain.php/

Sites for Savings

2009-09-27T23:10:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple of really good sites for saving money. www.billshrink.com, and www.validas.com. I am always looking for ways to save money on bills like cell phones, electricty, things like that.

I also like the way that Billshrink is organized. One of the things that is hardest for me is when I get disorganized I find that I miss things and then end up with things in the budget that I miss.

I think on this whole journey to find the frugal life, the biggest thing for me has been trying to stay organized with budgeting, grocery shopping, remembering things that pop up that aren't in the normal budget, anything that takes away from staying organized. I make it a point to start with a menu, because groceries are the biggest percentage of disposable income. If I have a set menu, then I can budget what to spend and it helps to keep all of the other things budgeted too.

The other thing that I have started to do, is to keep up with spending and where I am on the budget each day. By waiting a few days, then I am trying to catch up and I am working from behind.

Even though I am still struggling and juggling, I do feel like I am learning how to be frugal.

Cutting grocery costs

2009-09-26T23:50:00.001-07:00

Grocery cost is where we tend to not only spend the majority of our budget, but waste the most. I hate throwing food away, and I truly have good intentions, but it never fails that something gets bought that we don't eat and it ends up getting tossed. I am always looking for ways to cut grocery costs, but also buy the things that I know we will eat before they go bad. This is a good book, with some really good strategies that I will apply.

Here is a great article siting 9 strategies for cutting grocery costs without cutting coupons.

http://home.ivillage.com/slideshow/home_garden/9_ways_to_cut_your_grocery_bill_without_clipping_coupons/

Check out Jeff Yeagers book, "The Ultimate Cheapskates Road Map to True Riches."

Frugal tip

2009-09-23T22:47:00.000-07:00

One of the best frugal tips I've had in a long time, I tried and can attest to the fact that it works. I have terrible allergies, so I have to be careful about everything from laundry detergent to makeup. Makeup remover is really expensive, and I have to buy the hypo allergenic, no fragrance, no dye, no perfume, for sensitive skin stuff.

At night, I don't like going through the whole routine and wanted something that would take the makeup off and then put some moisturizer on for the night. I bought several different kinds of makeup remover wipes that did the trick, and it made the other more expensive items last longer.

Recently, I read a tip to try baby wipes instead of makeup remover wipes. They are inexpensive, sold in bulk, and wouldn't you know it, dye free, perfume free, for sensitive skin, and they work just great. You might have to try a couple of different kinds to get the one that is perfect for you. The one I found is quilted, so it's softer and it doesn't hurt to take eye makeup off.

Try it and drop a line to let us know how it works.

Holiday shopping

2009-09-22T14:16:00.000-07:00

Are you thinking about holiday gifts yet? Now is the perfect time to budget and plan out your gifts. Fall is a a great gift buying time because everything is on sale for back to school. So, if you have tweens and teens to buy for, look at what's on sale now.

Also, think outside the box. We had several family birthday's to buy for. Ages ranged greatly, and no one really "needed" anything. So, my daughter went to the dollar store and for 5.00 per person she got a measuring cup, a pot holder, measuring spoons and two kitchen towels all in coordinating colors. Then she made a bread starter - in this case it's called Amish Friendship Bread. Recipes for the start can be found online. Now everyone wants the bread starter for Christmas.

Another idea is for teenagers. If you have one wanting to take drivers ed, in our state it's about $600.00. So, have Aunts, Uncles, Grandparents, and other family members contribute to the drivers ed fund.

Ipod's are the hottest thing since cell phones, but new ones are expensive. Find a used one online. Those in really good condition are still cheaper than new. Or look for an older model. Your teen can then save a much smaller amount of money and when they are ready they can trade the older model in on an upgrade.

Many places are offering free shipping online, for orders placed by a deadline, or over a certain amount of money. Check online and see if the site has a combined shipping policy. If you buy more than one item, shipping is combined, or in some cases free.

More to come.

Save money with your cell phone

2009-09-22T00:20:00.000-07:00

Here is a great article I found on saving money with your cell phone.

http://www.komonews.com/news/consumer/60152972.html

Great article resource

2009-09-19T12:45:00.000-07:00

Great article on one families commitment to get out of debt.

http://customsites.yahoo.com/financiallyfit/finance/article-107752-2691-0-how-one-family-shed-106000-in-debt?ywaad=ad0035

Geat site

2009-09-18T21:43:00.000-07:00

Here is a great site for savings. Check out www.lifehacker.com to learn how to do things better and cheaper.

Posting Again

2009-09-18T00:28:00.000-07:00

Yeah, I am back finally. Much to post and much to talk about that is new. Going to try to make sure that I post every day.

Great Frugal idea: US Bank offers a Cash Back check card that allows you to get cash back when you make the purchase as a credit and sign the receipt. It doesn't count if you put the pin in. There is a list of 229 retailers that are participating retailers. Also, right now if you make any purchases as a credit you can get up to $50.00 back. www.usbank.com has all of the details. If you are going to make the purchase anyway, then it's worth to get money back.

If you have a Fred Meyer rewards card, it works a bit like that. You make the purchases and then you can redeem your rewards online. Rewards are anywhere from 1% to 8% back. The places offering these rewards are name brand stores, not stores that no one has ever heard of. For instance, Walmart, Target, Home Depot, even Ebay. Some do require that you make the purchases online, but that's easy to do with the listed retailers. I don't know if other banks do this, so check with your bank and see if they have a rewards program.

I am not endorsing US Bank, and I am not receiving anything from US Bank in return for this post. I am simply passing this information along.

2009-09-18T00:11:00.001-07:00

Trying to test scribefire. Ignore this post.

Today's tip

2009-07-08T22:57:00.000-07:00

Here is another resource that I found. Check out www.ppgazette.com They have tons of coupons to download/print and if you sign up for the newsletter, you get great recipes and ideas.

Today's tip

2009-07-06T08:48:00.000-07:00

One thing that I do consistently now is to look at the register when things are being rung up. Then I look at the receipt after I receive it. I don't make a big deal about it and I don't hold up the next person, but I am amazed at how many times things are rung up incorrectly. IF you are expecting something on sale, and it rings up at the regular price, then mention it to the person at the register immediately, or after you look at the receipt. I have never once had an issue with receiving the correct price. In cases where things have been placed in a wrong bin, and aren't on sale, or a sale has ended but the sign is still up, the stores will still usually give you a discount, or in most cases the sale price. In one month, I ended up with $30.00 of overcharges that I was able to get back. That's $30.00 out of my grocery budget that I was able to get back.

Dryer Sheets

2009-07-03T00:17:00.000-07:00

I know I've mentioned The Hillbilly Housewife newsletter before, so if you haven't had a chance to check it out, here is the link: http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/blog/?page_id=1464

A great tip from her newsletter that came from a reader: Save money on dryer sheets, put a bit of liquid fabric softener on a towel or washcloth and toss it in the dryer with the rest of the clothes. You may never buy dryer sheets again.

Resources

2009-06-29T10:35:00.001-07:00

If you haven't taken a look at www.mygrocerydeals.com. check it out. It's one of my favorites.

Frugal Tip for the day!

2009-06-26T22:59:00.000-07:00

Here is an easy one. When you put clothes in the dryer, tear the dryer sheet in half. Your clothes won't show any difference and your dryer sheets last twice as long.

2009-06-23T01:38:00.000-07:00

Channel 5 news, our local affilate here in Seattle ran a piece tonight on saving money. It was about saving money by making things last longer. One idea was to put a honey bottle into a bowl of warm water and you can get more out of it that wouldn't come out when it is cold.

Put water in the shampoo and laundry bottles to get a few more uses out of them.

Check out www.king5.com for more ideas.

Great resource

2009-06-21T00:39:00.000-07:00

Here is a great new resource for anyone who uses rewards cards. It's at www.shortcuts.com. Sign up and you can sign up your rewards card and then pick the coupons you want to use. The coupons get loaded onto the card and the amount is taken at the register. It's fast and easy to sign up and of course it's free.

Blog topics.

2009-06-16T10:35:00.001-07:00

I am excited to back after a short hiatus to take care of some other things. Are you living a frugal life? Tell me how. I am finding that the concepts are wonderful, but the everyday living is harder. So, I am always looking for new ideas.

I especially am interested in starting a coupon club, and a recipe exchange. Has anyone done this and how did you make it successful?

A good resource

2009-06-04T12:42:00.000-07:00

A great resource I have found is www.betterbudgeting.com.

They are starting a 5 week course on June 8th on how to budget better. I have not taken the course, but I do love the newsletter and all of it's tips. I have learned several new things. I will share those as they come up.

A post for Mother's Day

2009-05-10T13:13:00.000-07:00

Today is Mother's Day. It's my first without my own mother who passed away in August. I have been thinking alot about her this week. My mother was frugal, although growing up I thought she was cheap. I have found out that there is a huge difference.

One of the things that I learned from my mother is to save the cool whip containers. I always thought that was crazy, we had so many. But when she cooked a huge meal, she would call my brother to come have some and then fix leftovers for him and put them in those containers. When he was done, he could simply throw them away and not worry about getting expensive containers back to her.

I have had hundreds of dollars of Tupperware and the like over the years, and have lost a bunch of it to potlucks, holiday leftovers, get togethers, etc. I started saving the cool whip containers a few months ago, wondering why on earth I had wasted all that money. They may not be pretty, but they don't cost much and they hold leftovers quite nicely.

Happy Mother's Day, I miss you mom.

Recipe

2009-05-01T13:43:00.001-07:00

Here is a recipe I've done for the family twice now, and there have been no leftovers.

Chicken Enchiladas

8 pack of tortillas (I use flour and found them on sale 4/$5.00)
1 pack of enchilada sauce (about $1.00)
1 can tomato sauce (as little as .35 on sale)
1 whole chicken fryer (found on sale for .79/lb)
I slow cook the chicken on high for about 4 hours and then take it out and let it cool, then using forks in both hands I begin pulling all of the chicken off and shred it.
1 jar salsa (mild southwest is what I use, store brand was $1.99)

Spray the bottom of a rectangle pan with cooking spray, heat oven to 350 degrees. Fill the tortillas with the chicken, salsa, and a little enchilada sauce.
Wrap them with and place them in the pan with the "seam" side down. Pour the remaining enchilada sauce on top and for a splurge, shred some cheese. Bake for about 15 minutes. You should be able to get 6-8 depending on the size of the whole fryer.

By finding the ingredients on sale mine came out to under $8.00, so I splurged on sour cream, which is a favorite of my family, which cost $1.50, on sale, so the entire meal still ended up less than $10.00.

Resources

2009-05-01T10:26:00.000-07:00

www.couponmom.com

The site has been updated today with all new coupons and savings from many different grocery and retail stores.

Today's resource

2009-04-28T13:22:00.000-07:00

www.recipe4living.com

Great ideas for recipes and menus.

Back in the saddle

2009-04-20T09:37:00.001-07:00

After a week of being knocked on my butt by the flu, I am finally back.

Much to discuss. We decided a while ago to get rid of all of our contract cell phones and go with a no-contract service. We have been really happy with Virgin Mobile. They have the best prices and the best phones. You can be totally flexible in changing plans to suit whatever your current needs are. My daughter went on a school trip to Washington DC and she took her phone with her. She was able to call me anytime she wanted since there are no roaming or long distance fees and she sent lots of texts keeping me updated on what she was doing. Their newest deal is the "texters delight" which is a texting only plan. Unlimited testing for $19.99 a month. Taxes and fees are added of course, but there are no extra fees. You can also just put a few dollars on the account for emergency calls, which is a great deal for teens who use their phones for texting and make very few calls. We have been so pleased with the service, that we don't have a land line in our home anymore. My daughter has the texting plan and a few dollars for quick calls, my husband has the pay as you go plan, and we just add a few dollars every few months. He uses the phone very rarely. My phone is the main "house phone" so mine has the most minutes and I do have a monthly plan option, that is a cheaper per minute cost. All in all with three cell phones we spend less than $50 a month on our phone service.

PS - I am a happy customer, not a paid endorser....

Frugal and sick

2009-04-14T21:37:00.000-07:00

This week I have spent most of it on the couch sick. Which means no shopping, no keeping up with laundry or anything else. I haven't felt like cooking and of course, don't want to spread germs to the rest of the family. So, they have made do with canned tuna and canned soup. There is plenty to eat in the house, but I feel like I've gotten a bit off track. I have been so fuzzy, I can't even answer questions about what we have in the pantry.

I need some good ideas about what to do in a case like this. I don't get sick often, but would like to be prepared if I do.

I am also feeling like I've lost a bit of momentum and gotten off track a little. I just need to pick up where I left off when I feel better and keep going.

Much more to come.

Recipe Books

2009-04-13T08:08:00.000-07:00

Here are two more great books I found at the library.

Cheap.Fast.Good.
by Beverly Miller and Alicia Ross

The Everything Meals for a Month Cookbook
by Linda Larsen

Easter Sales/Bread dilema

2009-04-11T19:48:00.000-07:00

Since I didn't have to cook Easter dinner, I was able to take advantage of some of the sales. So, this week, I have done some good stocking up on things we use all of the time.

My task is to bring rolls for Easter dinner this year. I am realizing how expensive bread really is. Since I started paying attention to prices, I am amazed. The Franz bread my husband really likes is $4.29 a loaf. I like the whole meal white bread, it's essentially white bread but a little better for you. I love the everything bread, but it's almost $5.00 a loaf. Also, they don't seem to put it on sale much. The rolls for tomorrow varied in price as well. I picked up hot cross buns at one store for $2.99, they over $4.00 at other places. The buttermilk rolls were $1.50 a bag, and 8 of the whole wheat rolls were $3.89.

All of that to say, that we are snackers, and big sandwhich people in our family. So, another task is to find cheap and good bread.

The books I've been reading say to get bread from an outlet store. The nearest one for us isn't worth traveling to just for bread. But I am starting to look at the day old bread racks at the grocery stores.

Haven't found a good solution to this one yet.

2009-04-09T12:35:00.000-07:00

So this week, I've been working on menus and stock up items. I have scoured the sale papers and I found some wonderful deals. My daughter and I both really like a particular brand of shampoo and conditioner. They are expensive, somewhere in the neighborhood of $4.39 a piece. So shampoo and conditioner for both of us (I like the dry hair version, she likes the volume), is roughly $$18.00. So, for some bizarre reason, QFC ran an ad for $2.99 a piece. That's a pretty good deal, but in small print it said that if you used your rewards card, they would be $1.99. And what's more, there was no limit. I spent $24.00 plus tax and ended up saving $28.00 and change. Oh and I had a dollar off coupon too.

Today's deal is also at QFC, it expires on the 14th, so there is still time. No coupon is needed, so you can go back and get these deals more than once. Selected coke/pepsi 12 packs are buy 2 get 3 free. And Philly cream cheese is .99 each. Those are regularly $2.89 at our local store. I checked the expiration date and it is August 09/09, so I bought 5. Since they won't freeze well, I know that with dips, spreads, and bagels we will go through 5 before August so it is a good deal.

When I started this frugal journey, I said I would not give up my diet pop, which I am well aware I am addicted to, and I am not giving up my espresso machine. I love my lattes. However, I have been able to make adjustments, but buying store brand diet pop, which in some cases is better I think than the brand stuff, and mocha and syrup I buy at a restarant supply store, making it a lot cheaper than buying it at the grocery store.

Frugal this.....

2009-04-08T13:29:00.000-07:00

This past week, I have been pouring over some really good books from the library about living life more frugally. I think I am making strides. To some it may seem like baby steps. This week I found out that I have missed a huge savings opportunity right in front of me. Our family has an FSA account. It's a great idea for anyone who wants tax free dollars for medical expenses. Anyway, a number of over the counter items count towards FSA funds. If you shop at Fred Meyer, FSA eligible items are listed at the bottom of the receipt. If you are willing to keep track of receipts and file the paperwork, you will save money. I don't know if other stores like Walgreens or Rite-Aid break out FSA items, but the eligible items are available on the website. Fred Meyer has just made it really easy to file.

More to come.

Deals

2009-04-02T23:43:00.000-07:00

I found a great new website today. It's called www.shopathome.com. It's free to join and you can customize coupons, and deals with the myshopathome feature.

New dilemas

2009-03-30T19:09:00.000-07:00

OK, so I tried to have a leftovers night, taking all of the stuff from the fridge this week and putting it out on the table. My adoring family never touched it. I had to through it away. So, how do I get a family who doesn't eat leftovers to suddenly love them.

I have my favorite pair of jeans, wide waist band with trouser legs, dark washed blue, they are so great. Anyway, the zipper is loose. I have tried everything, and nothing works short of a safety pin. I took them into the dry cleaners and they will replace the zipper for $17. Should I bite the bullet and have them do it?

I have made a great step forward in the grocery store game. I am working on creating menus from Wednesday to Tuesday because the new flyers come out on Tuesdays and I will do all of weeks shopping on Wednesdays. Tuesday can then be leftover night.

As I figure out menus, I will try and post them here for anyone who wants them.

Helpful Sites

2009-03-28T20:50:00.000-07:00

I am learning how to set up menus and how to create a shopping list based on those menus. I have found a couple of really helpful sites that seem to make coupons and comparing prices pretty easy. www.Mygrocerydeals.com is a really good site. I think I have mentioned www.CouponMom.com before, but it's still one of my favorites.

If you need to save money on medicine, go to www.rxaminer.com. This site compares prices at phramacies in your area.

A recent article in our local newspaper, The River Current News, online at www.rivercurrentnews.com offers great tips on rethinking shopping and good ideas on reusing items. The article was written by Wendy Shimada.

A new day

2009-03-27T21:56:00.000-07:00

Sorry I haven't blogged in a few days. We had a minor crisis of sorts. Our dear dog, AJ who is like a member of our family, was bitten quite badly by another dog, requiring a late night visit to the ER and anesthesia. He received an IV and a whole bunch of stitches. So, embracing this new frugal lifestyle, I received the estimate and then asked the vet if there was anyway to keep costs down without lessoning the quality of his care. She was patient and kind, going through the estimate with me line by line. She was able to lower the cost by $100.00, by using generic drugs, and a different form of sedation. I would only recommend this as an acceptable frugal course of action, if it did not in any way change the care that your animal receives. And, I think it also helped that we had a kind and patient vet. Only by living this frugal lifestyle as of late, were we able to pay for his care right out of our checking account, without the use of credit cards. As I write this, I am watching our dear AJ on his bed curled up asleep, with the big cone on his head to keep him from scatching at the stitches.

More posts to come on coupon sites I found and great savings on groceries.

2009-03-24T21:02:00.000-07:00

Would you go to an auction for groceries?
http://www.komonews.com/news/national/41798192.html

My Bargainista

2009-03-23T21:16:00.000-07:00

I have to give major kudos to my 14 year old daughter, for being a champion bargainista. She has been looking for an 8th grade dance dress. My daughter is jeans and tees most of the time, but has to dress up on occasion for presentations, and 4H shows. But she rarely has an occasion to be more formal. She new what she wanted and has been looking for quite a while, both online and in stores. The cheaper dresses didn't fit well, and didn't look good on her, but of course, I didn't want to spend $150.00 for a dress that even though it was gorgeous on her, she would only wear once. So, she gave herself a challenge. Secided that she was going to find the perfect dress for $20.00.

So, she and her best friend decided to go to the mall, and see what they could find. At Macy's, they found dresses on sale. My daughter found a dress that was absolutely perfect, originally it was $ 75.00. It was marked down and then was another 40% off. When she tried it on, the zipper in the back had a place that the stitching missed. Two whip stiches will fix it. She asked the sales person for a discount because of the "hole" in dress where the zipper met the fabric and then showed her. She gave her another discount. So with tax the dress came to just over $23.00.

Just for the record and to be painfully clear, the dress had the stitches missing, my daughter did not do anything to alter it in any way. But she had no problem pointing it out.

Now she has the perfect dress for the dance, and she bragged to all her friends about what a deal she was able to get, on her on, with no help from mom in any way.

Online Coupons

2009-03-20T20:45:00.000-07:00

Here is a great video on online coupons.
http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=7130889

Bartering

2009-03-20T20:33:00.000-07:00

Great article on bartering.
http://abcnews.go.com/WN/story?id=7126159&page=1

Another frugal day

2009-03-19T22:45:00.000-07:00

My daughter and I took a nice pile of clothes and accessories to the consignment store today. If you are in Western Washington, I highly recommend Alligator Purse. Michelle Mack is the owner and she is friendly, and always remembers you.

She took 33 items today from us. We were very excited. Ther remainder of the items will be donated to the NWCenter, which is very much like Goodwill in our area.

A move is a perfect way to purge yourself of things that you haven't worn or used in a while.

Today's tip: Find a really good consignment store and make friends with the owner. Find out what type of things they like to take on a regular basis.

Do a google search for area consignment stores in your area, look in the yellow pages or ask friends.

A set back

2009-03-18T22:33:00.000-07:00

Well, as good as I have been with trying to get the hang of the frugal life, yesterday and today we were dealt a setback. I don't know what to do about this one. I would love some frugal advise.

We have a six year old chocolate lab and springer spaniel mix. His name is AJ and he is a dear part of our family. Yesterday we had to take him to the vet after he wouldn't get up and his back legs were dragging. The vet trip was $100.00. He needs X-rays and because he will be in pain, has to be put under. He will also need bloodwork, and the medicine we are giving him is $42.00 every two weeks. The x-rays and all that goes with it will be about $250.00.

Now, AJ is a part of our family and we will do whatever it takes to help relieve pain and help him get better. However, once I decided to try frugality, the agreement was that we had to apply it to our entire lives. Not just the groceries, or clothes and coffee, but everything.

I will post information on help I find and take any suggestions that anyone has.

Great Clips

2009-03-17T18:18:00.000-07:00

With all the economy woes, this one is a nice one. I used to be a hair salon snob. I would only get a haircut at a salon, usually at an average price of $60.00. But I'm cutting back on that too. So, off I went to Great Clips, all the while thinking that this couldn't possibly turn out well. You know, you get what you pay for right? But I ended up being pleasantly surprised. My hair is short these days, and I don't color it or highlight it anymore. So, that probaly helped. However, when I told my stylist, Pat, what I wanted she gave me a very nice cut, making it easy to style and maintain, without a lot of maintenance or need for expensive products.

It's cut in such a way that I can pull it back with a barrette, or even put a thin headband in. And then on those days when I am needing seriously low maintenance I can blow dry it and go.

In today's mail, I received a coupon for a $6.99 haircut at Great Clips. A shampoo, cut and dry is $20.00, styling like flat iron or other stuff is a little extra. So, for a $20.00, $6.99 is a great savings.

If like me you have been a hair salon snob and are needing to cut back, try Great Clips. You might be pleasantly surprised. And for $6.99, you can hardly go wrong.

Also, I have a great new website to tell you about. It's called the hillbilly housewife, and it's worth a great look. The website is: www.hillbillyhousewife.com. The name actually doesn't tell about the site. On the site are great ideas for school lunches, recipes, and my favorite thing is a shopping list with a week's menu that you can get for $45.00. There is one for $70.00, and there are also a great list of food items with the 2006 prices and then updated with 2009 prices. That is worth a look just for the shock value. I was amazed at how much some things have gone up.

Monday

2009-03-16T21:21:00.000-07:00

Here I am at the end of another day. I am still trying to get the hang of this and taking baby steps to get there.

I got a couple of new books from the library, and thought I would recommend "America's Cheapest Family Gets it Right on the Money." I got some wonderful tips from that one. I can't say that I will go as far as the book suggests, I can't picture myself taking 3 minute showers and only turning on the water to rinse. But, some of the tips in the grocery section were good. Here is one I never thought of, so it's my favorite TIP of the day: Instead of buying 50 makeup remover cloths for $8.00, look for the unscented baby wipes with no dyes or perfumes. I found 250 Kroger brand for $2.69. Since my 14 year daughter and I use them daily, this will save quite a few dollars over the course of the year.

Another good resource that I found was at www.smartsource.com. There are so many printable coupons here. I found a bunch for everyday things we use.

I am still feeling a little overwhelmed by all of this. There is a real art to balancing wanting to spend all of this money on the deals I find and sticking within a very small budget. Also, I got a little behind on this week's menu. I spent Saturday cleaning house and then a bit of a lazy night after dinner. On Sunday, I got the paper and pulled out all of the sales. Then I had to take my daughter several places, so I never got to it. Now, tonight, I am wondering about going to the grocery store tomorrow. All of the Sales end tomorrow, so I would have to wait until Wednesday, but now I have planned all the menus around these sales, so I have to go tomorrow or lose all of the time I put in.

I am sure that I will get the hang of it. I just need to keep at it.

More to come....

Books

2009-03-14T13:28:00.000-07:00

I have gotten a bunch of books from the library on saving money and living the frugal life. So far the ones that I have gotten the most out of and can recommend are:

How to Be a Budget Fashionista, by Kathryn Finney
Misery Moms, Jonni McCoy
Frugal Living for Dummies, Deborah Taylor-Hough

I got a couple more today and will put them on the list if they turn out to be good.

Today's Favorite Find: Corn Chowder at Cash N Carry, $10.78, just add water. It will make three meals for three people. For a splurge add a really good bread and that makes a great meal. Last time I got it, I made the entire thing and then divided it into three freezer bowls and froze them.

End of another day

2009-03-14T00:52:00.001-07:00

Tonight we had BLT's. I was able to find the bacon on sale for $1.99, it was good although not as good as the expensive stuff. Not as flavorful. The lettuce, tomatoes and bread was all on sale as well as the mayo.

Tomorrow night we have plans to do spaghetti. I got store brand Texas Toast for $1.00 a box at the dollar store and the Spaghetti was $1.00 a pound. The sauce was slightly on sale, but the ground beef was not. It still ends up being a great deal of savings however.

I am still working on my price comparison book and scouring the sale papers when I get them to see what things are on sale that we normally buy.

I got a Jiffy Lube coupon in the mail in a Val-Pak, so I will use that to get the oil changed in my car.

TIP: One tip that I got from several of the books is to unplug things you aren't using. If you turn them off but leave them unplugged they are still using electricity. We are going to try that this weekend and see if it will make a difference.

Another Frugal Day

2009-03-13T01:21:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I watched Oprah, and I got some good tips on saving money. At Oprah.com there were all of the recipes and tips that they talked about. So, today, armed with my list and recipes, coupons and sale paper, off I went to Safeway. I got meals, stocked up on juice and pop, snacks and breakfast items and saved $60.00 on the bill. I felt really good.

I made a great new dish tonight from the Oprah site. It was Rigatoni, which I got for a dollar, then added to it was a mixture of cherry tomatoes, which were on sale, salami, which was on sale, black olives, canned and sliced, also on sale, garlic and white wine that I already had. It was delicious and easy to make, more importantly, my 14 year old daughter and husband loved it too.

More to come.

Friday March 6

2009-03-06T23:33:00.000-08:00

It's the end of the week. I've taken some baby steps this week. Coupons, shopping sale papers for groceries, and even starting a price comparison log in my notebook. Of course I left it on the couch this morning, thinking I wouldn't need it, but then my husband called and wanted me to stop by the store for a couple of things. So, lesson learned there.

Also, my best find for today was wild CoHo Salmon fillets at QFC. Original price $19.81, I got it for $10.25. I already have some wild rice and some veggies. So that will be a great dinner tomorrow night.

This week I shopped at Rainbow grocery outlet, Dollar Tree and groceries at Fred Meyer.

I also started keeping a cash book, and receipts and keeping up with all of the cash we are spending.

So, for the first week, I feel like although it was baby steps I have made tremendous progress.

I would love to hear tips and other things from people and I will continue to post my progress and all of the research that I am doing too.

Day One

2009-03-04T17:57:00.000-08:00

Here I am at the end of the day. I am starting to think more about every penny that gets spent. How long I can go between fillups, what items in the pantry can I pair up to make dinner. We had pasta salad tonight that I bought boxes on sale with a pesto sauce. I had two boxes left and made them both, so tomorrow I can chop up some chicken and add to it for lunch. I have also signed up for several coupon websites and blogs/websites about saving money and living more frugally. I went on the library website and reserved several books on frugal living as well as saving money, budgeting and other items.

My best money saving win for today was making enough salad that even though boxes only cost$2.00. Now it will make 3 meals for 3.

More to come.

Getting Started

2009-03-02T19:34:00.000-08:00

Well, here I am. I have found myself in need of saving money. A lot of it. So, here is the beginning of my journey. I have always loved the idea of a frugal life, but always found myself too lazy or materialistic to stick to it for very long. In 2008, I blew out my back and ended up in PT twice a week and in pain almost all of the time. With the economy and my health I was forced to close my business. My Mom passed away unexpectedly in August after complications from surgery. I am still not working, so we are relying on my husbands income only. So, my task is to save money every month. I don't watch tons of Dr. Phil or Oprah, but on the same day last week, they both ran programs about saving money. Both came along at the perfect time, since I was frustrated trying to figure out how to stretch our dollars. So, I am starting out as an infant in this process, which is why I thought this blog might be a good idea. I hope that you will contribute tips, websites, any information that you have and what you have done that works. Or if you are like me trying to figure all this out, maybe we can take the journey together and help each other out. Here we go!