Frugal Friday 12-30-11

I really meant to get a picture of the items before I put them up last night.  I went to Bi-lo, my favorite savings place, to use coupons that are expiring tomorrow.  Here is what I got:

1 Bottle ERA detergent

3 33.9 ounce cannisters of Folgers Decaf Coffee

16 bottles of Kraft BBQ sauce

1 package Idahoan Instant Potatoes

3 packages of frozen Cooked Perfect Meatballs

2 40 count packages of Tampax Tampons

2 boxes of Zesta Saltine Crackers

Total Before Sales and Coupons:  $101.02

Total After Sales and Coupons + Tax:  $17.69

Savings:  nearly 83%

Frugal Friday 12-23-11

I am assuming that some people could call today "Frantic Friday".  Even with the the stress of my husband losing his job two months ago and starting a new job last month, I am not stressed at all this year.  I decided to do far less baking, buy less gifts, and plan less events.  It has had a very calming effect on me.  I also decided to not send Christmas cards.  It is not that big of an expense, but it is one less expense.  Deciding to do less baking has helped me to spend less this year. I will do a minimal amount of baking and cooking tomorrow, but most of what I am doing will use things that I already have on hand.

Although I have always lived a somewhat frugal life and consider myself a simple person, we got far too comfortable eating out, spending on extras, and being overall careless the last couple of years.  My husband losing his job really shook me and woke me up.  I have been extremely cautious with every single penny that we have received and that we are spending.  I made a book that I call a "Budget Book" where I keep a literal journal about each of those pennies. Writing down not only what we spend but the reasoning behind it is VERY eye-opening. 

I have also made a notebook for me to write down all of our grocery spending and to keep up with what I cook each day.  It is also a journal.  I am keeping it for several reasons.  (1) I want keep track of our food spending (2)  I want to keep track of the actual cost of food each day (3)  I will be able to see the last time we had ___________ for supper.

I am a firm believer that if you do not have some sort of accountability with anything that you are trying to manage or control, you will not make good decisions.  Writing things down really keeps me on track, rather it is my diet, our budget, or a shopping list.  I believe with all my heart that when we have to look at reality in writing, it makes us more aware.  I keep several (ok, many) kinds of journals for this very reason. I am "old school" and I write it all with my own hand and a pen.  Typing does not necessarily have the same effect for me.

On this Christmas Eve Eve, I am thankful that it is not Frantic Friday for me.  I am grateful that God has given me peace through all that we have been through the last few months.  

Frugal Friday

I find it to be almost a challenge to see just how much I can save on groceries and feeding my family.  I realized as I served supper last night that we have not had the same meal twice in the last nine weeks.  I have had something for dessert each evening too.  I have become quite resourceful and my family seems to be really enjoying it.  As I think back over the last 20+ years but especially the last 9 weeks I know that without certain things in place, feeding my family would be a source of stress.  Since I do not like stress, here are some things that are in place to cut down on our cost for food:

(1)  Casseroles can be made out of almost anything.  I combine all sorts of things to make casseroles out of either leftovers or what I have on hand. Here are some ideas I have used:

*Leftover chili beans in a casserole with a cornbread topping.  Once the cornbread was cooked browned cheese on top

*Leftover beef stew with left over mashed potatoes on top.

*Cooked and shredded chicken with a can of cream of mushroom mixed with sour cream all topped with seasoned bread crumbs.

(2)  Don't feel obligated to have a 5 course meal each night.  I aim for a main dish, vegetable, and a bread. We then enjoy dessert after that.  One dish meals (casseroles) are easy way to get the meat, vegetable, and bread all in one place.

(3)  I don't shop for "weekly" groceries.  I shop for deals...good deals!  I shop for my stockpile.  I fill my freezer when meat is on sale.  My grocery store puts markdown coupons on meat to move it.  Even if I just stop to get milk, I make a dash through the meat department to see what I can find.

Here is a deal that I got last week:

My grocery store had turkey legs and wings in packs of three for $4.50-$5.50.  Each package had $4.50 in coupons attached.  That made each pack $1 or less.  A few were free.  So I got all that they had.  I will soak some of them in a brine one day soon and roast them.

(4)  I am blessed in that my family will pretty much eat whatever I fix.  I have known men that would not eat but certain cuts of meat or certain dishes.  My husband is thankful for whatever I prepare and is not picky.  That saves us a lot of money.

(5)  Know what the usual price for things are.  The biggest mistake that I think some people make is that they have no idea what a good deal is.  They think a sale price is a great deal at one store when the regular price at another store is better. I am a "numbers" person so I remember the prices.  If you are not that way, make a list of the things that you buy most often and keep a check on the regular prices.

(6)  COUPONS!!!!  I cannot stress this tip enough.  Without coupons, I would not be able to feed my family.  Because I do not shop for "weekly" groceries, I find deals when they are a deal and I stock-up on them.  I don't have a HUGE stockpile, but I have enough.  I buy things on sale and with coupons.

(7)  For things that I may HAVE TO have one day that I do not have a sale+coupon deal to take advantage of, I go to Aldi.  They have good prices on things for when I have to pay "full price".

(9)  Keep staples on hand.  I cannot stress this enough.  Various types of flours, cornmeal mix, butter, milk, eggs, sugar, buttermilk, sour cream, canned milk, dried beans, hamburger meat, spices, flavorings, bread, etc are some of the things I always have on hand.  In a pinch, I can make a meal.  If you have to go out and buy staples only when you know you are going to use them for a particular recipe, you will overspend all year long.

(8)  Final tip:  LEARN TO COOK AND TO BE RESOURCEFUL!!!  Don't let cooking intimidate you.  My mother will be the first to tell you that she did not teach me to cook.  Everything I have learned I have taught myself.  I started out with simple recipes and after nearly 20 years of marriage, I have become almost too comfortable in the kitchen.  

Being frugal does not mean that you are cheap.  It means that you are smart.  I use whatever we have, reuse whatever I can, and make the most of what we have.  I did not just start this when the economy took a hit.  This is how we have lived for nearly 20 years.  If you live like this all the time, it is your way of life and not a drastic change in times when things are hard.