Living Green and Saving Money

For years, I used to purchase things without thinking twice about how my actions were costing me money and affection the environment. We didn’t recycle and I bought lots of single serving products on sale because of convenience. I used Ziploc bags for many things and threw them in the trash when I was done. I didn’t enjoy washing them out and they didn’t cost that much on sale. Now I see things differently. I found that I could save money by reducing my carbon footprint. These are some of the changes I have made:

1. Use containers instead of Ziploc bags for school lunches, leftovers, etc. I save money each month simply by NOT buying plastic bags anymore.
2. Buy Used! It costs less to buy something second hand and you are also helping to keep it out of a landfill. To save even more, you can barter or trade.
3. Recycle: Recycling doesn’t save me a lot of money up front, but it helps me to see which products I buy that have a lot of packaging and look for alternative ways to find the products I want that are more earth friendly. For example, I noticed a lot of yogurt containers, so I decided to try making my own yogurt instead of buying it. I realized that I could save money and generate less trash by using dry beans instead of canned. In some states, you can even earn money from recycling aluminum, glass and steel.
4. Cooking from scratch. This is a big money saver for me. It is much healthier, tastes better and creates less trash. Making more meatless meals helps, too. Fast food costs a lot, is high in calories and has a lot of packaging. I also try to find restaurant clone recipes and make them instead of going out at times. It costs less money to eat at home and is fun to cook as a family.
5. Home canning, Freezing and Gardening: This is also a BIG money saver. A package of lettuce seeds costs as much as a head of lettuce where I live. But, when we plant a package of lettuce seeds, we can get enough lettuce to have a salad every day of the summer. It is healthier, cheaper. If you don’t have a yard, look into container gardening. We planted raspberries several years ago. We will get enough raspberries this year to eat every morning during the season, freeze some, and also make a few batches of raspberry jam. That is a lot of free produce! By canning of freezing your garden produce, you can eat it all year and the cost for canning is very minimal. This is a good family activity, working together and being more in touch with the earth.
6. Bring Your Own Bags: Some stores will take off 3-5 cents per bag if you bring your own.
7. Buy in Bulk – When you buy in bulk, there is less packaging and you can buy just what you need for a recipe. This helps to prevent waste from purchasing too much.
8. Drive Less: Consolidate trips and save gas. Improve your health by walking and riding your bike. Public transit can also save money. With the price of gas as high as it is, it is something to consider.
9. Eat less and Use less: We eat more than we need. By eating the proper portions, you eat less and food lasts longer. You save money since you don’t have to buy so much. This works with household items, too. I use half the amount the package says for laundry and dishwasher soap. Clothes and dishes still get clean and the soap lasts twice as long.
10. Stay within a budget. I spend $50 per week on groceries for our family. When I try to stick to a tighter budget, there isn’t much money to spend on junk food. If I have to choose between 5 pounds of carrots and a bag of chips, we will get the carrots. I focus on the more important products when I limit myself to a stricter budget.
11. Buy quality, not quantity. I have three good knives I use regularly: a paring knife, a butcher knife and a serrated knife. You don’t need a drawer full of knives. You can also use a knife for cutting everything instead of buying an egg slicer, mushroom slicer, etc. Find items that will multitask.
12. Use non toxic cleaners. Vinegar and baking soda, etc. cost much less than toxic cleaners. They are also environmentally friendly. Use rags instead of paper towels to save money and be more earth conscious.
13. Don’t buy more than you need. No one needs a whole closet full of clothes. Most of us wear 20 percent of our clothes, 80 percent of the time. When we overbuy, we end up spending money on things that aren’t necessary. The only exception to this is with your food pantry. It is good to stock up, but only buy what you can use before it expires.
14. Don’t buy bottled water. Take your own water bottle and refill it.
15. Shop once a week. There will always be good deals. By shopping once a week, you save gas and spend less by not being in stores all the time. You have more time to go on a walk, read a book or spend time with people.
16. Avoid disposable tableware. Use regular plates instead of paper. We generate a lot of trash and spend more money when we buy disposable items.
17. Don’t waste food. We eat or freeze all of our leftovers.
18. Switch to electronic payments. Whether it is the newspaper or bills, you can save money by switching. You won’t have to buy stamps or envelopes and you won’t have lots of bills or newspapers coming into your home.
19. Use the library. Instead of paying for subscriptions for magazines, go read them in the library. Instead of buying books, Cd’s and Dvd’s, check them out from the library. You will spend less, have less clutter in your home to clean, and this lowers your carbon footprint.

It is possible to save money while saving the earth. It also makes you life simpler and gives you time to do things that matter most.

Simple Savings: Menu Planning, A Key to Saving Money

            Making a menu can save money and helps you to be more organized.  Many people don’t like to make menus.  They get tired of the monotony of doing it week after week.  Even though it may not be the most enjoyable thing to do, there are some real benefits that make it worth taking the time and effort.  There are some things you can do to simplify menu planning.

1.     The first thing to do is to go through your recipes and get rid of all the ones that you have never tried and won’t get around to trying.  Then, get rid of the ones you don’t like or don’t make any more.  Whittle it down to keeping the recipes that you use regularly and like.  Decluttering your recipes will help you to feel like a weight being lifted.  Go through your recipe books and rip out or copy the recipes you use from the book and donate, sell the book.  You don’t need a lot of recipe books in your kitchen, especially if you only use one or two from a book.  Check the internet to see if the recipes you like are already there.  If they are, you can consider getting rid of the paper copy.  Think about putting your favorite recipes on your computer.
2.     Focus on the benefits of making a menu.  First, you will know what is in your food if you make it yourself.  Second, it helps to avoid eating out which costs more and isn’t as healthy.  Third, having a meal plan and a grocery list will also help to avoid spontaneous purchases.  Fourth, after making a meal plan, you can adjust your plan according to your schedule.  For example, on busy nights, make an easy meal. 
3.     Take your favorite meals and make a weekly, biweekly or monthly menu.  If you don’t like deciding what to make, you can make your meal plan once and just use the same meal plan over and over.  It will make shopping easier too, as your list will include many of the same items from week to week. 
4.     Try making certain meals on certain nights.  For example, have a pasta night, a soup night, pizza night, casserole night, etc.  Another idea would be to do certain ethnic foods on certain nights.  One night could be Mexican food night, one night could be Italian food night, one night could be Mediterranean food night, etc. 
5.     Try new recipes occasionally if you are bored with the food you are eating.  It is fun to be creative and try new things. 

Although meal planning may not be the most enjoyable thing to do, the benefits far outweigh the cost of time it takes.  You will feel more organized, save money and eat more variety and better meals if you do.  You will get through the grocery store much more quickly with a list and you won’t have to worry about needing to run out for something you forgot.  You won’t have to wonder what to fix for dinner at 4 in the afternoon.  You will have a plan to follow and it will help to decrease some of the stress involved in cooking meals.

Jumping off the Treadmill of Materialism

 When I was younger, I got caught up with materialism like many other people.  The goal was to have the bigger house, the nicer furniture and clothes, etc.  There was one thing that happened that was a turning point for me.  I went to a meeting one night where a couple spoke about how they retired early. Before that time, I had the mindset that many others did namely that you worked until you retired.  I had never really thought about retiring early and having the freedom to pursue things that I wanted to do.  As I listened to them talk about the sacrifices they had to make, it was amazing to me that those things could make such a difference.  Here was this couple who were able to full time religious service to others because they had been frugal earlier in their lives.  Ever since then, I have had the goal of financial freedom.  We have made some of the similar sacrifices that they have, but it is easier to do that when you have a goal in mind.  There are several things you can do in your life to make a difference. 

1.      Drive your car until it dies.  The wife of the couple who retired early told us how she felt a little uncomfortable driving a very old car when her friends were driving new cars.  Her husband kept telling her that if they lived like that for 10 years, it would pay off.  Now that the 10 years were over, she said that it has really paid off.  Liz Weston wrote an article called, “Your Car Is Wrecking Your Retirement”.  She says that if you were to invest the $8.000 that you would pay each year for a car and expenses related to it, you could save over a million dollars over 40 years.  Before you go buying a new car, think about driving the old one a bit longer.  Another suggestion from the couple who retired early was to always pay cash for cars.  You save a lot of money in interest if you do this.  Dave Ramsey made a video about this very subject called, “Drive Free, Retire Rich.”  Driving a nice car is great, but is it really worth the trade off?

2.     Pay off the house you have and stay where you are.  Warren Buffett has done this and he certainly has the money to buy a very nice home if he wanted to.  If you have a home that you can’t pay off by the time you are 50-55, then consider downsizing.  If you are in a home that isn’t your dream home, stay put. Get your mortgage paid off.  By having your home paid off, you will have a lot of financial freedom. 

3.     Save Money.  Dave Ramsey has another video that talks about saving $100 a month from the time you are age 30 to age 70 invested wisely could make you a millionaire.  Most people waste one hundred dollars in a month.  Before purchasing something, take some time and think about it.  Ben Franklin said “At a great pennyworth pause a while.”  Before buying something new, ask yourself if you have something already that will work.  For example, who needs an apple cutter when they have a knife that will do just fine?  Look in your closet and see if you have an outfit that will work for the occasion before purchasing something new.  The little bits that you save will make a difference. 

4.     Plan your spending and stick to your plan.  A budget is nothing more than a plan.  Some people look at it as something that is restrictive, but a following a budget plan will help you to have the freedom you want in the future.  You know you always have money for what you need because you have worked through the plan ahead of time. 

5.     There are a few other simple things to do:  take care of what you have, buy used if you can, cook your own meals from scratch, don’t waste. 

We can get by with much less than we think we can.  If we focus on our needs and follow the 5 suggestions above, we could be like the couple who shared their experience of retiring early.  They have the freedom that most people won’t have because they have been careful.  If financial freedom is a value to you, skip keeping up with the Joneses and focus on keeping up with your plan.  I will always be grateful for this couple who shared their experience with me that night years ago.  Their counsel has benefited my family, and we also hope to have the chance to retire early one day.

More or Less: Where Less is More

Picture from Kunz Design         

There are two ways to boost your income or standard of living.  The first is to make more money, and the second is to spend less.  Most people only look at making more money as the answer to their problems, but spending less can actually make a bigger difference in the long run.  The following examples show how this is true.

1.        If you are currently making 50,000 per year and you can cut your expenses in half, then you can retire much earlier because you don’t need as much money to live on. 
2.       If you get rid of excess clutter in your home, it will take you less time to clean and more time to do the things you want.  It will be easier to find things.  It will also provide financial benefits because you will shopping less when you choose to have fewer things. 
3.       Instead of going out and buying Christmas china to use once a year, use your nice set of china that you already have.  You will have more space in your cupboards this way and will save yourself money as well.   
4.       If you were an extreme couponer, and you purchased 200 bottles of a name brand sports drink for only 5 cents each, you will save a lot of money over the regular price.  But, if you just drink water, you will save a lot of time that you would have spent cutting out coupons, buying an enormous amount of stuff that has to be carried out to the car and then into the house to take up a lot of space, and save yourself the hassles that can come with coupons.  You will also save the $10.00 that you would have spent and will be healthier since water is better for you.
5.       If you purchase inexpensive items like vinegar and baking soda to do most of your cleaning, you are saving money, saving space in your cupboards, and helping the environment at the same time.
6.       If you go out to eat and split a meal, you will get plenty of food and can avoid overeating.  You will also save money as an added benefit.
7.       If you make cookies and only have one or two at a time per person, the cookies will last longer.  You won’t have to cook as much and you won’t be eating as many calories and you will save money since you are eating less.
8.       If you are traveling and only take the allowed carry-on luggage, you will save the baggage fee for checking in a bag and you won’t have as many clothes to keep track of on your trip.
9.       If you consolidate your trips into one major trip a week, you will save money on gas, save time that you would have spent going back and forth to the store, and your car will last longer because you won’t be driving it as much. 

Image from All Room Furniture

10.   If you only wash your clothes when they or dirty or when they stink, you will do less laundry and therefore spend less money on utilities.  You will also spend less time doing it.
11.   If you use half as much shampoo and body wash than you normally do or if you wash your hair every other day, you will use less shampoo, etc.  They will last twice as long.  You will save money since you don’t need to buy as much and you will save the time and effort it takes if you had to get more.  You can also use half of what you normally use for dishwasher soap or laundry soap.
12.   If you take shorter showers or shut the water off and use less when you brush your teeth, you will save money. 
13.   Some places have punch cards where you get a punch each time you go.  If you fill up the card, you get a free meal.  There are certain days when you get double punches.  If you go to the restaurant on those days, then you need to go less times for your free meal.
14.   If you are willing to go out at during different times, like happy hour for example, you can pay less money for more food.
15.   If you are willing to live in a smaller home, you will have a smaller mortgage and more financial freedom in your budget each month.  You will also spend less on utilities.
16.   Use less disposable items.  If you use containers to store food instead of Ziploc bags, you will save money by not buying the bags, save the time washing the bags if you do, and save contributing to more trash when you throw them away.  Use rags to clean instead of paper towels and use regular plates instead of paper plates. 
17.   By keeping your old car until you can’t drive it any more, you save the money you would have spent buying a new one as well as the higher insurance that you would have had to pay with a newer vehicle. 
18.   If you spend less by choosing to rent a DVD through Redbox instead of buying it, you save a lot of money as well as save yourself the clutter in the home. 

Image from All Room Furniture


Having less gives you more freedom, both financial and with time.  It decreases the stress in your life when you are not surrounded by so much stuff and it reduces your carbon footprint.  When you take the time to slow down and get off the treadmill of thinking that more is better, you find more peace, enjoyment and happiness in what you do have.  Less is more and having less can certainly save you money as well as improve the quality of your life.

Use It Before You Lose It

There is a lot of food waste in America. The average family of four wastes enough food to feed another person for a year. This video clip is a perfect example of what I am talking about. There are things you can do to cut your food waste and save money at the same time.

1. CLEAN OUT YOUR FRIDGE BEFORE YOU SHOP. Each week, I clean out my fridge the day before I go shopping. I pull everything out, one shelf at a time, and clean the shelf and then check expiration dates and look inside containers to see what I have before I put it back. If the milk is close to or over the expiration date, I will plan to make pancakes that week with the rest of it. If I have several yogurts in the fridge that need to be used, I will make a smoothie with the yogurt and some old fruit that needs to be used. After I wipe down the shelf, I put things back according to how soon they need to be used. The things that need to be used first go in the front. If I have veggies that need to be used, I will wash and cut them and put them in containers to use for a stir fry or an omelet. While I clean, I make a mental note of what I have so I don’t buy doubles of what I already have. By going through the fridge before I go shopping, I know exactly what I have and won’t buy things I don’t need. I can assess what I have leftover from the last week, see what I need to use and how soon it needs to be used. One way to keep on top of what is in your fridge is to label leftovers with the date they were made so you won’t have to rely on your memory alone and accidently eat something that has been there much longer than you remembered.

2. FREEZE WHAT YOU CAN’T EAT. If I find leftovers that I can’t use right away, I will freeze them for later and send them for lunches or have them on a busy night. If I got more than I need of something that was on sale, I will chop it up and set aside what I need for the week and freeze the rest for later. By freezing things I can’t use right away, it just gives me more time to integrate them in our menus for the next few weeks. Don’t waste leftovers by just throwing them away each week. Freeze them right away if you won’t be able to use them in the next day or two. I try to use my leftovers the next day for lunches so they don’t sit in the fridge. But, when I make a recipe and we have a lot left, I will just freeze it in meal size portions or single size portions.

3. PLAN MENUS AROUND WHAT NEEDS TO BE USED. As I go through the fridge, I take note of what I have and plan meals for the next week around the things that need to be used up in the fridge. If I have sour cream, I may make a Mexican dinner or make muffins that we really like that use sour cream. If I don’t have enough for a whole recipe, I will make half of the recipe or find something else to make that needs less sour cream. I don’t overbuy and I don’t buy doubles of what I already have because I know exactly what I have from going through the fridge before I shop. I do the same thing with the food in my cupboards, and integrate the food that will expire soon into our menus. If there are foods that spoil more quickly, I will try to make those meals sooner in the week, so the produce doesn’t go bad by the time I am ready to make the recipe.

4. DON’T BUY MORE THAN YOU NEED. By going through my fridge each week, I am more careful in what I buy for the next week. It is easy to buy too much and let things spoil when you don’t know what you already have. I also make sure that I put the new food I buy behind the old food, so the oldest food gets used first. I call it the FIFO rule: First In, First Out.

National “Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day” is November 15^th. You don’t have to wait until November to start cleaning out your fridge. You can clean it out weekly, so you can reduce food waste and save yourself money. The grocery budget is one of the largest variable expenses in a month. By staying organized through cleaning out your fridge each week, you will enjoy the financial benefits as well.

Getting 5 Fruits and Veggies a day on a limited income

The biggest challenge for me, working with a limited income, is to get 5 fruits and veggies for each person in the family each day.  I have been accomplish this by doing the following:

For breakfast, we have only 4 oz. of orange juice to drink.  If I can find grapefruit at a good price, we each have half a grapefruit each instead of the orange juice.  If other citrus fruits are on sale, we substitute them for our orange juice. We usually have bananas as one of our regular fruits because they are less expensive and we can get riper bananas on sale sometimes for only 20 cents per pound.  We also cut bananas in half, since half a banana is a serving.

We each have a carrot for lunch every day.  This provides our dark orange vegetable and carrots don't cost too much.  I used to buy an apple a day for each of us during the school year, but apple prices have gone way up.  I may give us half an apple each day this year if I need to.  We have 2 apple tress that don't produce a lot of apples, but can provide enough to last through a month of lunches.  I also make applesauce if we have enough apples or if someone gives us some.  I will substitute applesauce for apples in lunches depending on the price of apples at the time.  Our neighbor also share some of her apples with us and they can last for a couple of weeks in lunches. 

For dinner, I try to serve a dark green veggie like broccoli, spinach or romaine lettuce.  We don't eat iceberg lettuce in our home. 

To make up for the other veggies or fruits in a day, I will buy only the veggies on a good sale unless I need certain produce for a recipe.  My husband likes onions and potatoes or we will buy tomatoes and avocado to go in a salad.  In the winter, butternut squash goes on sale for 39 cents per pound.  I will buy 20 pounds and freeze them in portions that provide one serving for each member of the family. 

I can't emphasize the value of a garden and fruit trees or bushes.  It saves tons of money when you grow your own produce.  Especially, when you freeze or can the extras to last through the winter.  We have had about 1 1/2 gallons of raspberries every couple of days for the past week or two.  We eat them fresh, freeze berries and also make raspberry jam.  We have been eating lettuce most every day from our garden.  Those two things alone provide 2/5 of our fruits and veggies for a day.  We also have a source for crab apples, since our tree is very young, and we make crab apple jelly and crab apple applesauce which everyone loves because it is so tart.  Here in Montana, the growing season is very short but we still can garden and get produce to eat and freeze.  We have grown carrots, green beans, peas, spinach, lettuce, onions, beets and squash even though we planted late.  Our winter squash rarely produces because when the snow is finally gone we plant late and don't have a green house.  People we know who have green houses also grow tomatoes, peppers and winter squash.  If you rent a house or don't have a backyard, look into container gardening. 

Most days we eat more than 5 fruits and vegetables, especially in the summer when there are so many more choices available. 

Article: 18 Ways Money Slips Through Your Fingers

The Dollar Stretcher published another one of my articles.  If you are interested in reading it, go here .  You may be able to find something that can help you to save some money.

Article: Feed Yourself for 10 Dollars a Week

This article was written in answer to an e-mail I received.  Hope it has some helpful tips!

Feed Yourself for 10 Dollars a Week

Food prices are climbing and it is getting harder to feed yourself on a small budget.  If you live by yourself, it is especially hard.  There are some things you can do to feed yourself and stay in a small budget.  The following suggestions can make a big difference as you try to cut back costs: 

1. Cook from scratch.  Make enough food for several meals at one time and concentrate on planning monthly instead of weekly.  You can make a meal for 4 and then freeze the other 3 portions for later in the month.  Make a batch of muffins, tortillas or pancakes and then freeze by twos.  You will have 6-7 days worth of muffins.  You can have more variety by doing this, instead of eating the same thing every day for the whole week.  Get cheap or free containers from garage sales or save containers when you buy things like sour cream or cottage cheese.  Cooking from scratch and making several meals at one time may be one of the most important things you can do to eat a well balanced diet and have variety in your meals.
2. Make your own preserves.  You don’t need pectin or canning supplies.  You can just cook it longer and then freeze it.  This is good to do when fruits are in season and are inexpensive.  It is best when you get free fruit from friends, neighbors and family members.  If you don’t have friends with surplus produce, check the ads or place an ad in the paper in the free section.  There are people out there who would love to have someone pick their fruit and take it away so they don’t have to deal with the mess as they fall off the tree and rot.  You can make enough applesauce, apple jelly and apple pie filling to last a year by taking advantage of these opportunities.  We also have wild chokecherries in our area.  You can pick them and make jelly or syrup with the juice.
3. Plant raspberries, rhubarb, fruit trees or other things that produce each year without much effort on your part.
4. Buy marked down food.  Find out when your grocery stores mark down items that are close to their expiration dates.  Most things are at least half off the regular price.  Combine it with a coupon and you get things for free!
5. Eat inexpensive produce.  Bananas, potatoes and carrots are inexpensive.  You can eat just half a banana for a serving so they will last longer.  But produce in season and preserve.
6. Free Food:  I am amazed at how many free foods are out there, and I am not talking about dumpster diving!  A few weeks ago, name brand rice was on sale for $1 per box.  There were coupons next to the rice for $1 off one box.  If you find things on sale and combine with a coupon, you will be surprised how many things you can get for free. 
7. Get a bread machine.  Making your own bread saves money.  You can find one for free on Craig’s list or ask around to see if anyone you know has one they don’t want or look for one at a garage sale. 
8. Get coupons from manufacturers.  Find a place where people recycle newspapers and get coupons for free.  Use coupons.com and couponsurfer.com for printable coupons online. 
9. Double or triple coupons if you have the chance in your area.  
10. Offer to make meals for someone if they will pay for the food for both of you. 
11. Have a pot luck, where you make part of the meal and they bring part of the meal.  You can split leftovers when the meal is done, and everyone will have a complete meal for the next day.  If money is tight, you can have a brunch and make muffins.  Have other people bring orange juice and bacon.  Many people are grateful to bring something easy and quick that they can just buy and love to enjoy homemade food that they don’t take the time to make themselves.
12. Pay strict heed to portion control.  Americans eat way too much.  Have balanced meals and use whole grains, but be wise about how much you eat.  I can make a batch of tortillas for 42 cents.  If I divide the batch and put some away before we eat them, we are not tempted to eat more than we need and they last for another meal.  For one person, a batch will make enough tortillas for the whole week, eating 2 tortillas a day.  Put the extras in the fridge or freezer for other days. 
13. Make things using less expensive ingredients.  If you make a batch of muffins, instead of making some with chocolate chips or nuts in them, stick to something inexpensive like banana muffins made from ripe bananas at a reduced price.  You can freeze your muffins in packages of 1 or 2 and they will last a couple of weeks for 1 person.  Make egg salad instead of lunchmeat.  Use refried beans instead of meat in tacos. 
14. Buy things on sale and plan meals around sale items.  Make a meal plan, but plan it according to what is on sale that week. 
15. Be flexible when you shop.  Take advantage of free or very inexpensive items that you find while shopping.  You can adjust your meal plan if necessary to eat things that expire soon. 
16. Use the bulk section to buy smaller quantities of spices, etc. when you just need a little bit.  They may be more expensive per ounce, but you can buy exactly what you need and no more.
17. Stockpile:  This will take time, but this will be another important key to successfully living on a strict budget.  It will take a few months to get some extra items, but if you are careful to buy deeply discounted items especially in the beginning, you will see your stockpile grow.  This is hard at first, but the more you do it, you will have a greater variety of food and a bigger stockpile. 
18. Sign up for free samples.  Even if you get a granola bar or a little box of cereal, they will make a difference.  Little things add up.  Manufacturer’s give samples of shampoo and other items too.  You can save yourself some money by signing up for free items.  If you aren’t brand loyal, it is fun to try new things and have more variety.    
19. When you buy milk or bread, buy the cheapest size and freeze what you won’t use before it spoils.  Use your freezer to your advantage.  You will save money and you won’t waste food.  
20. Get meat for free.  Many times there are ads in the free section for chickens, goats, etc.  If you don’t mind doing your own butchering, this is a great opportunity.  In our area, there are many people who love to hunt, but don’t want to eat the meat.  Keep your ears open or post something in the paper that you would love free deer or elk.  You may get more than you can use! 

Even though food prices are rising, you can keep your food budget to a minimum by following these guidelines. 

25 dollar Grocery Challenge - Feeding a Family of 4 for $25 for a week

Here is an article that was published by the Dollar Stretcher. 

The Grocery Store War

I don’t enjoy grocery shopping like I used to. I feel like I am at war when I go to the grocery stores. They want to take advantage of me and I want to beat them at their game. It takes some strategy and courage to fight the grocery battle. It would be so nice to go to one store and buy everything, but I am not willing to spend twice the amount of money on groceries as I spend now. I shop around and buy only the best deals at each store and then get my regular items that are absolutely necessary at the cheapest store in town. I prepare my menus around sale items and that is what we eat. We have a large variety of food choices because I have stocked up on sale items regularly. Grocery stores don’t appreciate people who shop like me. They are used to people buying all their groceries at one place, not just the sale items. If everyone shopped the way I do, grocery stores would go out of business. I guess I can’t blame them when they don’t treat me in a friendly way.

My husband works hard for the money he earns, so I feel like I have the responsibility to make that money go as far as possible.

1. DON’T BE LOYAL TO ONE STORE: Grocery chain stores want your money. They don’t care about you personally. Why should you pay double for something when you don’t need to?
2. KNOW YOUR PRICES: You need to know what a good price is for what you buy. A good way to do this is to make a price book with a list of the prices of each item from each of the main stores in your area. When you have accurate information, you won’t get taken advantage of by sales that really don’t save you much money. Some grocery stores raise their prices when they do a “Buy one, get one Free” sale. Many times you pay more than you would during a regular week. By knowing your prices, you won’t get taken.
3. INVEST IN A LOCAL PAPER: Look at the ads and find things that you purchase on a regular basis that are a good price. Grocery stores usually have a few things that are called “Loss Leaders” which are items that are priced low or even below cost just to get you to come into their store. You need to have self discipline and only buy what is a good sale. I regularly save about 50 percent off my grocery bill. If you start buying the higher priced groceries out of convenience, you have surrendered to the grocery store and they will gladly take your hard earned money.
4. DON’T GO SHOPPING WITHOUT A DETAILED LIST: This strategy has helped me save money in several ways. Before you go into a grocery store, write down the things that are on sale and how much you plan to buy and write down an estimate about how much it will cost. I can easily tell when I am being overcharged for something, because I know how much I will spend before I go into the grocery store. If you don’t catch a mistake while the clerk is ringing things up, then just walk off a little way and take the time to look at your receipt in detail to catch any mistakes before you leave the grocery store. It is easier to take care of things right away instead of waiting. You may lose the receipt or just forget about getting the price adjustment. You aren’t getting a good deal if you aren’t being charged the correct price. I always use cash and bring as much money as my list says it will cost. This helps keep me from being tempted to buy things that aren’t on my list.
5. DON’T FEEL GUILTY: You shouldn’t feel guilty about only buying the deals. There are plenty of other people who don’t want to take the time to shop wisely and the store will make plenty of money on them. The store makes the offer hoping they will get you into the store and you will buy more. You can beat them at their own game by only buying things that are a great price.
6. PLAN EFFICIENT TRIPS: Figure out the shortest way to go to all the places you want to go to. If there are only one or two things on sale at one store, you may choose to skip that store for the week. If you have frozen or refrigerated items, take a cooler in the car so you can keep them cool.
7. IF YOU DON’T WANT TO DRIVE TO DIFFERENT STORES, GO TO WALMART AND MATCH ALL YOUR ADS: Unless things have changed, Walmart makes the claim to match competitors ads. If you choose to do this, then you really need to watch the clerk to make sure it is done correctly or you will be paying for their mistakes. Find a clerk that knows how to do it right and go when they are working. Take your ads with you. You will be able to just go to one store this way, but it will take longer than usual. When I have done this, they match the store brand from another store for their store brand.
8. GET RAIN CHECKS WHEN THEY DON’T HAVE SALE ITEMS IN STOCK: By getting a rain check, you will still have the opportunity to get the sale item. It is frustrating to drive to a store only to find that they are out of the items they claim to have.

There was a famous song years ago entitled, “You Better Shop Around”. Even though they weren’t talking about grocery stores, there is wisdom in the title of the song. I hate to shop around, but it is worth the extra time it takes to save so much money. The money will add up. The amount of money you spend in gas and the few minutes of extra time it takes are small sacrifices for the substantial savings you will have by doing so. It is definitely worth a try!

Staying Afloat in the Midst of Financial Turmoil

Frugality has become a way of life in our home. It wasn’t always that way. We learned through our experiences throughout many years. Some people make remarks about our going to garage sales or about the middle class neighborhood where we live or that we match ads for groceries. It used to bother me, but as I see those same people struggling to pay their bills and coming close to losing their homes in the next few months, it doesn’t bother me so much any more. I would rather be frugal and live with the peace of knowing that we will make it through hard times because of the following choices we have made:

1. Maintain the same standard of living regardless of whether you get more money or not. We also don’t plan on changing our spending habits even though the economy is improving.
2. Pay off your home as soon as possible. We make additional payments each month on the principal of our loan. By doing this, our home will be paid of in less than half of the time it would normally take.
3. Save money each month. We save 25 dollars a month per child in a savings account as well as 100 extra dollars per month to have on hand. This is in addition to our emergency fund of 1000 dollars which we have in the bank in case we need it. The emergency fund money is replaced as soon as possible if it is ever used.
4. Buy used or deeply discounted clothing. Most of our clothing is purchased in the summer at garage sales. We get quality name brand clothing for 25 cents to one dollar in most cases. We also buy winter coats at garage sales, and buy two per person. If the kids lose their coat at school, we have a back up. We do the same for gloves and hats. Any name brand, winter or sports clothing gets taken to a second hand store on consignment if the kids don’t like it, it doesn’t fit or is outgrown. We end up making money off the clothing we buy used. If we do buy new clothing, we buy off season when it is deeply discounted.
5. Eating out is something our family enjoys, but when we go out to eat we use coupons or go when they have specials to reduce the cost. For example, one of our favorite restaurants has unlimited soup, salad and bread for 5.99. They also have frequent lunch cards. On Tuesdays, they give you double punches. So, that is the day we will go to that restaurant. It doesn’t take long before you get a free meal. We always drink water instead of buying drinks. Sometimes we will split meals or just take the leftovers home for another meal.
6. Groceries cost us less than half of what most people pay because we faithfully study the grocery ads each week. We buy and eat what is on sale. We stock up enough of the sale items to have for a 3-6 month period. It takes a few months to stock up a well balanced pantry, but it is worth it. I write a fairly accurate grocery list of the item, store and cost so I will know how much I expect the total to be. I do all of this before entering the store. I cut back the lowest priority items on my list to stay within my budget. Since I know how much the total should be, I will be able to catch any mistakes made from ringing up my groceries right away. If there is self check available, I usually go there so I can go slowly and make sure I am being charged the correct prices. I set a limit each week on what I spend, use cash, and don’t go over my limit.
7. We have 3-6 months of canned goods and staples like flour and sugar, for example. If something were to happen, we would have plenty of food for a while.
8. We have savings in the bank equivalent to 6 months of our salary. If there was a job loss or salary change, we could pay our mortgage, our bills and all our other monthly expenses for 6 months.
9. I cook from scratch. I make our meals, bread, cookies, tortillas, cakes, and most things from scratch. We do this to save money, have better quality food, and avoid preservatives and colorings from packaged foods. One of the simple pleasures in life is to smell and eat homemade bread.
10. We try to buy used if possible. We buy serving dishes, decorations, wool blankets, Tupperware, books, etc. at garage sales. You can save tons of money this way.

Developing frugal habits has blessed our lives by providing peace through financially troubled times. We are able to pay for our needs and have money to spare. I am grateful for the experiences we have had which helped us to be wiser with our money.

Cutting the Cost of Food in a Crisis

Unexpected things happen occasionally in our lives that can throw us off like a pay cut or an unexpected bill. We may not have extra money in the budget to pay for it and we feel financially stressed. The grocery bill is one area that we can cut back in so we can free up money for other areas. There are some things we can do to cut costs.

1. Buy store brands. They may not taste as good or look as appetizing, but they are usually cheaper and the difference in cost can add up. You may also have to choose cheaper alternatives such as vegetable oil instead of canola oil, margarine instead of butter and imitation vanilla instead of real. You may have to give up your favorite cookies or crackers for a cheaper alternative. Realize that the goal is to feed you well balanced meals and save money. You will have to make some sacrifices, but you can still achieve the goal.
2. Cook by scratch. The time you spend in the kitchen making your own bread, tortillas, muffins, and meals will help to provide you and/or your family with nutritious meals that will taste good and cost less. Most people don’t want to eat oatmeal or peanut butter sandwiches every day, and would probably feel deprived if they did which would make it less likely that they will stick to the goal of eating for less. When food tastes good, and you have a lot of variety, people are happier. Why not enjoy your food more and save money in the process?
3. Shop sales. To maximize the amount of food you can purchase for the money you have, it is good to buy sale items each week that are lost leaders. Lost leaders are items that are greatly reduced to lure you into the store. Plan your menus around items that are on sale. Shopping carefully can provide a way to purchase twice as much food or more for the same money. Make a very detailed list and stick to it. Don’t go buy things on impulse.
4. 4. If you have limited funds, it may be wise to use the bulk food section in you local store. Foods they may cost more per pound at times, but you can buy limited amounts and only get what you need. For example, if you are making refried beans and want some cumin, you can purchase a teaspoon in the bulk food section for cents instead of spend a few dollars for a whole bottle.
5. 5. If you want to spend less on food long term, then buy things on sale and stock up. It will take a few months to get a good variety, but when you buy this way, you are buying your groceries at the lowest cost all the time instead of having to pay whatever the price is when you need something. For example, if you find butter on sale for 99 cents, buy it even though you may not need it at the time. You don’t want to wait until you need butter and then have to pay 3.50 for the same size package. Your pantry will be like your own personal store. When you eat what is on sale, and stock up what is on sale, then you can eat your regular items but only pay about half the price to do so.
6. Take advantage of local store markdowns. I found milk for 59 cents for a gallon once, and name brand yogurt for 8 cents each, and bananas for 10 cents a pound. Ask the grocery workers when they do their markdowns, and plan your trips around those times. There are wonderful bargains out there if you take the time to find out about them.

Prices are going up, so it is wise to do all we can to save money by buying things at their lowest price. When we free up money we normally spend on groceries, we can use it to pay unexpected bills or put in savings for a rainy day in the future.

Frugal Foods

Prices are rising and budgets are getting tighter. Finding ways to stretch the money we have is getting more important. Food is one area in the budget that is flexible. Finding less expensive alternatives can save us money that is needed elsewhere. There are some easy things that everyone can do which require little effort. There are three other basic things that can be done to eat for less. They are: buying things on sale, cooking from scratch and substituting with less expensive ingredients. Figure out which option or options will work with your lifestyle.

Below are some things that everyone can do which require little effort:

1. Eat foods that are as close to their natural state as possible.
2. Eat proper portions. No one needs 16 oz. of orange juice in the morning. One half banana or one half grapefruit is considered a serving. One or two cookies are a serving. When I make chocolate chip cookies, it is easy to eat more than a serving. I put them in bags of two and then put them in the freezer after they are cooled. Then they are ready for lunches or snacks in the future. This also reduces the temptation to overeat.
3. Eat less meat and more beans. A pound of beans is cheaper and healthier than a pound of meat.
4. Use your crock pot. Buy cheaper cuts of meat and slow cook them. Make chili or soup to use inexpensive vegetables like onions, carrots, etc.
5. Learn to use spices. Most things can taste good if they are spiced well.
6. Use your freezer. You can freeze leftovers for lunches another day or pancakes and waffles for a quick breakfast. You can stockpile food when prices are low and freeze until needed.
7. Stop buying soda. Water is healthier and much less expensive.
8. When using meat, use half the amount.
9. Eat oatmeal for breakfast. It is inexpensive, full of fiber and can lower your cholesterol. Try adding raisins, dried fruit or fresh fruit to add some variety.
10. Buy store brands. Many are guaranteed if you don’t like them.
11. Look for items that are marked down such as day old bakery items and meat.

Buying things on sale can save you a lot of money. For example, if you can buy mayonnaise on sale for $1.00, you can get three or four for the price that you would pay for one. Buy as many as you can eat before the expiration date. Be careful not to over buy, or you will end up wasting food even if it is a good price. Eat what is on sale by planning your recipes around the sale ads. For example, if chicken is on sale for a good price, choose recipes to eat that use chicken such as fajitas, chicken enchiladas, spaghetti with chicken, chicken and rice casserole, chicken noodle soup, etc. If broccoli is on sale, make stir fry, broccoli cheese soup, broccoli and rice casserole, etc. Don’t buy things that you don’t like or won’t eat just because they are on sale. Take a can opener in the car with you and buy one can of what is on sale, and make sure you like it before you buy more.

Cooking from scratch is another way to save money on food. Find recipes for basics such as bread, tortillas, muffins, biscuits, rolls, bagels, crackers, etc. Learn to make your own cakes instead of buying a mix. If you make your own food, you will know exactly what is in it and it won’t be full of preservatives like packaged versions. Cooking from scratch doesn’t take that much more effort in many cases. Making your own French fries tastes better than the frozen or fast food version. There’s nothing like the smell and taste of homemade cookies.

If you don’t have a lot of time to cook by scratch or don’t want to take the time to buy things on sale, you can still do some things to lower your food budget. Try to find recipes that are less expensive to make. For example, instead of making lasagna, make spaghetti. Instead of tacos with meat, use refried beans. Instead of making enchiladas with chicken or beef, make them with rice and beans. Instead of cold cereal, eat hot cereal. Bananas are cheaper than strawberries; carrots and onions are cheaper than cauliflower and broccoli.

Food is one of the most flexible areas in the budget. Buying things on sale, cooking from scratch and using less expensive ingredients can help lower your food budget so you can free up money that is needed for something else.

Bread for All Seasons

Sometimes you find a recipe that is good for everything. It is easy to make, inexpensive and versatile for creating many different things. A friend gave me this recipe 20 years ago, and people are always asking me to share it. Once you try it, you will get hooked and enjoy the many things you can do with it.

This bread can be used throughout the year and on holidays. On Valentine’s day, you can make a heart shaped loaf of bread, on Easter, make a bunny out of bread, on the 4th of July, make hamburger and hot dog buns. On Thanksgiving, try making crescent rolls and at Christmas make a wreath. Use your creativity to make up your own ways to use this recipe or try some of the variations listed below.


FRENCH BREAD

Dissolve 1 pkg. Yeast (1 Tablespoon) in ½ cup warm water. Add 1 Tablespoon sugar, 1 cup warm water (but not hot – you don’t want to kill the yeast by using water that is too hot), 1 ½ teaspoons salt, 1 heaping Tablespoon shortening. Add 4 cups flour. Knead and let rise until doubled. Shape and let rise. Bake bread at 350, rolls at 375 until brown. Rub butter on top after baking while still hot if desired.

I like to double this recipe because that way I only get the mixing bowl, tablespoon and the one cup measuring cup dirty.

Variations:

• Get a handful of dough and roll out in a circle. Put pepperoni and grated mozzarella cheese on top. Roll up and seal. Let rise 20 minutes, then cook at 350 degrees until lightly brown. You can also do this with Canadian bacon or cooked Italian sausage and cheese. After they are cooked, you can freeze these for lunches when needed. Once I even used hot dogs and cheddar cheese when I had no other meat in the house. Just make sure that you seal it properly so the hot dogs aren’t exposed.
• Roll out into pizza dough whatever size you want. Brush spaghetti sauce on top and add your favorite toppings. Cook at 375 degrees until done.
• Divide into loaves and cook at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes or until done. Use loaves as bread for sandwiches or make French toast.
• Divide into loaves. Roll out each ball of dough and put cinnamon sugar and raisins, parmesan cheese, or herbs on it. Roll up and seal.
• Make cinnamon rolls.
• Make dinner rolls whatever shape you want.
• Let kids have fun by making bears, alligators, etc. Cook creations at 350 degrees until lightly brown.
• Make breadsticks or pretzels and roll in butter and cinnamon sugar or parmesan cheese or sprinkle cheddar cheese or coarse salt on top. You can also brush with egg white and put poppy seeds or sesame seeds on top.
• Make hamburger or hot dog buns.
• Use to make a fruit strudel.
• Braid and make into a loaf or a wreath. Try rolling out and putting butter and cinnamon sugar and roll up, seal and shape into a wreath and then cut 1 ½ inch slits all around it.

Enjoy this recipe that is easy to make, inexpensive and tastes great. It has been one of our family favorites for years.

Santa’s Secrets to Saving

Enjoy Christmas without having anything to pay for when it is all over. You can spend less and still have a great holiday. By following some simple steps, you can enjoy your holiday and have it paid for.

1. CREATE A BUDGET: Figure out a reasonable budget that you can afford without using credit cards. You don’t want to be paying for Christmas months after the holiday it is over. Set the money aside in a savings account or in an envelope specifically marked only for Christmas. Use only what you have set aside. Stop when your money runs out.
2. DECIDE WHO YOU WILL GIVE GIFTS TO: Once you know how much money you have to spend, determine who you wish to buy and make gifts for. Consider a family gift instead of individual gifts. Draw names out of a hat instead of giving a gift to everyone at work. If you can’t figure out what to do for someone who has everything, donate money to charity in their name.
3. PLAN CAREFULLY: Estimate costs for each person and gift and stay within your budget. If the estimates are more than you have to spend, cut back by making necessary changes so it will be within your budget. For example, instead of sending expensive gift baskets, buy baskets on sale and make your own baked goodies. Copy ideas from companies who sell baked good for Christmas or check out a book from the library about different gifts you can make from the kitchen. Remember, the true meaning of Christmas is about giving from the heart and not just from the pocketbook.
4. SEND GIFT CARDS: There is a greater chance the recipient will like what you give if you send a gift card. They can easily be mailed in a Christmas card. Save yourself hours of shopping, money for gift wrap, long lines at the post office and extra mailing costs.

If you do decide to send gifts, take advantage of free gift wrap at stores. Send gifts well in advance to pay less on postage and avoid long lines at the post office.

Buy ingredients at Thanksgiving time when flour, butter, sugar and other baking items are priced very low. Do Christmas cooking ahead of time and freeze items. Consider doubling your dinner recipes and freeze meals so they will be available later in December when things get busy. Instead of spending the money to go out for fast food on a busy day, eat a healthier meal from the freezer.

If you are having a Christmas party, consider doing a potluck. Besides saving money and time in the kitchen, you can try a variety of different foods that people bring.

Keep all receipts in a folder. You will be able to find them easily this way if you need to exchange or return anything.

The holiday season is a wonderful time to spend with family and friends. With careful planning, you can enjoy it regardless of the amount of money you have to spend.

CHRISTMAS COUPONS: Inexpensive Personalized Gifts

As the holiday season approaches and people are concerned about the economy, there is a way the holidays can be enjoyed with those we love without spending a lot of money. Making coupons for people can be very personal. You can choose to spend money or you can share the gift of time instead of money. If there is a cost involved, it can be spread throughout a longer time period instead of having to spend it all for one day in December. You can make a coupon for whatever you want. There are no restrictions on what you give like there are if you buy things from store shelves. You can make coupons for one time things or coupons for things every month for a year. You can be as creative as you like. Try some of these ideas or make up your own.

Adults:

• Parents, Grandparents and Friends
• Make dinner
• Take them out to eat – you can choose the place that fits in your budget
• Take them shopping
• Take them out to a movie
• Invite them over to spend an evening with you in your home and rent a movie and provide popcorn and a dessert.
• Offer to iron
• Mow their lawn
• Card game
• Coupon for a hug or kiss
• Trip to the library or doctor
• Book or cookies or bread or dinner once a month for a year
• Do household chores – dishes, vacuuming, cleaning, etc.
• Go on a walk together
• Breakfast in bed
• Wash the car
• Make a loaf of bread
• Watch their kids while they go out
• Cut their hair
• Paint their nails
• Make their favorite food for them
• Teach them a skill or talent

Kids:

• An evening with mom and dad
• Party with friends and watch a movie and provide dinner or dessert
• Bowling
• Use of the car including gas for a date
• A toy of their choice under a certain dollar limit
• Rent their favorite movie
• Take them to their favorite restaurant
• Play their favorite game
• A night off from household chores
• Paint their room
• Let them choose a pattern and material and sew what they want

Coupons are fun and easy to make. You can use any kind of paper, markers or crayons and even use stickers or pictures if you want them to be more elaborate. Coupons are an easy alternate way of giving a gift from the heart. You can decide whatever you want to give in your budget, and you can give services or spend time with people if money is tight. Don’t let money be a stumbling block this Christmas season. There are other ways to give to others besides a store bought present. Coupons allow you the freedom to give whatever you can in any budget.

Hints from a Garage Sale Guru

Many Americans are feeling the “pinch” with rising prices of food and gas. Money doesn’t go as far as it used to. Because of this, more and more people who choose to go to garage sales instead of buying everything in retail stores. Besides finding tremendous bargains at a fraction of the original cost, you can also feel good inside knowing that you are helping the earth by recycling when you purchase used items instead of new.

Have a clear idea of what you want before you go to any garage sales. Make a list of items you want or need and take it with you. This will help to avoid wasting money by purchasing unnecessary items. Be very selective when you go. When buying clothing, check for stains, check zippers, and count buttons on clothing. Make sure electronic items work by plugging them and testing them in before you decide to buy. Look for missing pieces when looking at puzzles and games and see if there are chips in glassware. Don’t buy something just because it is inexpensive. There are many quality items out there. Even though things are inexpensive, they add up quickly. You don’t want to clutter up your home by purchasing unnecessary items. The real purpose of going is to buy what you need and want at a fraction of the price. Leave the great bargains that you don’t need for someone else to enjoy.

Prices may be higher than you want to pay. Don’t be afraid to bargain if you feel the price is too high. I don’t feel like I am trying to take advantage of anyone when I ask them if they would be willing to go down in price. They can always say no or choose a lower price that is acceptable to them. If they are asking a very fair price, then I personally wouldn’t try to bargain down the price. You can always walk away if you don’t feel comfortable about the cost. The greatest bargains can be found towards the final hour of the sale. By then, people are more willing to get rid of their treasures and some may make everything free just to save themselves from having to haul it away.

When going to garage sales, one of the hidden costs that people don’t always think of is the cost of gas. There are things you can do to keep gas costs lower. First of all, go through the sales and determine which ones you want to go to. Areas with more than one garage sale may be more worth the time and money to go to. Avoid driving long distances just for one sale. There will always be another sale in the future and you may end up spending more money than you save. One gas saving option is to carpool with friends and take turns driving or split the cost of the gas. You get time to visit as well as getting great bargains. Drive the most economical car you have. This is a time when you want the best gas mileage. Map out your stops and check times so you are not doing a lot of waiting or driving back and forth. To determine just how much you spend on gas, fill up the tank before you go. After you are done, fill the tank with gas again. The amount you spend the second time will be the amount you have spent to go to garage sales.

Going to garage sales can be a fun adventure as you get great bargains and make your money stretch. Be careful though, because you might just get hooked and skip going to retail stores in the future!

Deck the Halls Debt Free

Christmas is a wonderful time. We spend weeks and even months preparing Christmas. The packages are opened so quickly and all we are left with is credit card bills to pay for everything. Make this Christmas one you can enjoy without having anything to pay for when it is all over. By following some simple steps, you can enjoy your holiday and have it paid for.

1. Take a moment to think of what you bought last year. Did you buy too much? Were things broken or missing pieces within a short time?
   
   
2. Create a budget. Decide what you can reasonably save before Christmas. Put the money into a savings account or in an envelope in your drawer. Use only that money for Christmas purchases. Be sure to include gifts, meals, wrapping paper, travel, etc.
   
   
3. If Christmas shopping is stressful, set aside money from your monthly budget and buy things each month so you won’t have much to do in December.
   
   
4. Shop at garage sales in the summer if money is tight.
   
   
5. Make gifts from your kitchen. Jam, for example is something you can make in the summer and just package in December. Remember, the true meaning of Christmas is about giving from the heart and not just from the pocketbook.
   
   
6. Buy ingredients at Thanksgiving time when flour, butter, sugar and other baking items are priced very low.

By careful planning and saving money now, you can have the money you need to buy things for Christmas and will be able to have a more enjoyable holiday knowing that it is already paid for. You won’t have to deal with any credit card charges and interest for months after the holiday is over.

Reducing Recipe Clutter: Try it or Toss it

Many of us enjoy cooking and have a shelf full of cookbooks that we plan to use someday. By reducing recipes, we can free up valuable shelf space in the kitchen and can more easily get our fingers on the recipes we like and use. By using the following steps, you can no long be plagued with recipe clutter and will have extra space in your kitchen for what you want.

1. Go through cookbooks. Keep one basic cookbook that you use most frequently. If there are one or two recipes in other books that you like, either copy or tear out the pages you use and discard the rest of the book. Toss any cookbooks that you don’t use at all.
   
   
2. Look through the recipes that you don’t use often. Do you really think you will make them again? If not, toss them. Keep only the best recipes.
   
   
3. Go through current recipes. Throw away ones that you don’t like or don’t want to make in the future.
   
   
4. Keep recipes you haven’t tried but still want to try separated from your regular recipes. Put them in a labeled Ziploc bag. Try one when you feel like being adventurous. If you think the cost of ingredients isn’t worth making the recipe, then toss it.
   
   
5. If you have multiple recipes of one thing, make them at the same time so you can compare them and then keep only the recipe you like best. By culling through recipes, it is easier to find the recipe needed and you know you will like what you make because the recipes left are tried and true.
   
   
6. Keep looking for good recipes. If you try something you like better than one of your recipes, get the recipe and replace your old one,
   
   
7. Before buying a recipe book, check it out from the library and try a couple of recipes in it. If you don’t really like them, save yourself the money and clutter from buying the book.
   
   
8. If you enjoy using computers, put your recipes on the computer. This makes it easier to add and delete recipes and to send recipes to others when they request.

It is nice to be free of recipe clutter and know that the recipes you have are the ones you like and enjoy. By following these steps, this is possible to achieve.

Buy it or Bag it

Is it really worth the cost to make your own lunch, or is it just as cost effective to buy lunch? For adults, there is no question that bagging it is less expensive and healthier. You could buy an inexpensive burger and fries for about the same cost as making your lunch, but there may be negative long term consequences for your health. Another option is to take leftovers for lunch. You can make your food stretch further, as well as saving the time making your lunch the next morning. For kids with school lunch, there are so many variables that the choice of how to provide lunch for your kids depends on what is important to you. Here are ideas to help you decide which is better for you.

Having kids eat cafeteria lunches is more convenient. It costs about $1.50 per day per child to eat school lunch if they are in elementary school and about $1.75 per day if they are in junior high and high school. Teenagers are more likely to spend more money than that since most don’t seem to like cafeteria lunches and may choose to eat elsewhere. It is important to ask yourself if your child will even eat the lunches at school. Some of our kids would rather skip lunch than have a cafeteria lunch. It is a waste of your money if they aren’t eating it. Are the lunches healthy enough for your standards? Do they get the nutrition they need or are there too many high-fat, fried foods? Let’s say you have 4 kids. Two are in elementary school and two are in junior high school. The weekly cost would be about $32.50. How much would it cost to make lunches? There are many variables to be considered. I did an analysis of prices in the most expensive grocery store in town. I used regular prices, not sale prices for the analysis. I could have saved $5 or more on the items I priced if I had used the store’s sale prices. If you buy individually wrapped items, the cost would likely be more than the cost of the cafeteria. On the other hand, you could save money if you make homemade bread and cookies or buy things on sale or at the least expensive store in town. It is also important to remember that younger children usually eat smaller portions. By sending half as much as is sent for older kids, your money will stretch further. And, if your kids like peanut butter and jelly every day of the week, then you could save even more! Kids never seem to have enough time to eat a big lunch at school, so you need to be wise in determining the amount to send.

This list includes groceries to make two peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, two egg salad sandwiches and one tuna sandwich per child for the week. It also includes a daily drink, fruit or vegetable and a snack. All prices are regular store prices, not sale prices.

Expensive Store-Name Brand (ESNB): These groceries are all name brand items bought at the most expensive store in town. They are not sale prices. I could have saved over $5 with the regular sale prices on these name brands the day I shopped.

Expensive Store-Store Brand (ESSB): These groceries were bought at the most expensive store in town. Some of the store brands do not taste as good as the name brands, but are priced more reasonably if you are not as picky about name brands.

Homemade (HOME): When food is homemade, it usually tastes better and has fewer preservatives. You know exactly what is in your food when you make it. You can also buy juice concentrate and put in containers or use powdered drink mix or water to save even more.

Inexpensive Store-Name Brand (ISNB): These are name brands bought at the most reasonably priced store in town.

Inexpensive Store-Store Brand (ISSB): These are store brands bought at the most reasonably priced store in town.

Cafeteria (CAFÉ): Lunch purchased at school cafeteria

	ESNB	ESSB	HOME	ISNB	ISSB	CAFE
2 Loaves of Bread	4.98	1.78	~1.00	4.38	1.58
2 lbs. carrots	1.49	1.49	.79	.79	.79
1 bag apples	2.99	2.99	1.99	1.99	1.99
Eggs for egg salad	2.29	1.49	1.29	1.29	1.29
Tuna	.79	.59	.49	.71	.49
Mayonnaise	2.49	1.89	1.67	2.18	1.67
Peanut Butter	2.69	2.19	1.29	2.13	1.29
Jam	2.49	1.99	1.90	2.42	1.90
Drink/Juice Boxes	6.98	5.00	~2.00	6.06	5.20
Chips or Cookies (2)	2.99	1.79	~2.00	2.89	1.62
Total	30.18	21.20	14.42	24.84	17.82	32.50

Figure out what really matters to you. Is your time or money more important? Is the quality of the food and nutritional value more important than the best value for your dollar? Saving ten dollars per week using store brands instead of name brands adds up to $520 per year. If you send homemade lunches, shop at a less expensive store, or shop sales and are more cost conscious, you can save over a $1,000 per year. It can really add up. Think of all the things you could do with that extra money. Not only are you saving, you also gain the opportunity to earn a return on the money saved. By experimenting and finding out the appropriate balance you will be happy with your decision.