I hear that a lot from people !! And although we realize the reasoning behind it - it is for the kids and the schools - it still can hit a budget badly - especially if your children are spread out in ages and are in different schools.
I know many say just don't do them at all and that's OK if that's how they feel... but i at least want to try to do what i can, because my child, in the end , is getting something from it all .
My children go to private catholic schools - ie we pay a good amount of our income to tuition .
A choice we made 14 years ago when it was a 100 a month expense for our oldest child. Now 4 more children later we still stick by our choice education wise - but the cost has made a major leap !! And one of the main reasons for our frugal doings is to afford this choice.
Our one school has many fundraisers - at the beginning of the year they state that they don't expect you to do them all they do many different ones so people can do what they feel works for them. Of course tell that to the second grader coming home with the catalogs and the prizes he can win . Poor child would never stand a chance anyway as neither my dh or i have jobs we are allowed to sell at -my mom is an unemployed senior caring for my 94 yo grandmother - and my dh's parents are seniors his dad is still working in real estate ( which isn't doing well right now ) and have 17 grandchildren so cant buy from them all and we have made an agreement with his 7 siblings that we just don't sell to each other- otherwise we may as well hand a 20$ bill around the table at family dinners !!
So we do what we can which usually buying overpriced things is not a part of .
And the kids know it and are used to it so basically are OK with not having a chance at some prize which usually goes to the kid whose dad owns a company ad everyone buys off the bosses kid to look good to the boss !!
Some are hard to get away from .
Our HS has a yearly ad campaign for the play- its 50$ a child -and basically mandatory we had 2 kids in HS this year - we used dh's business card which will be paid for by his boss and his dads which we paid to put in .
This month i have 3 things to come up with ,
My oldest dd is participating in the school fashion show and all participants need to donate a basket for auction with a worth of 75$+++
For the younger two childrens school they are asking for 50$ Donations in items GC or cash and your kids get 3 dress down days . I understand the rationale behind it to get people to do it- but i hate the fact that a parents inability to find 50$ to buy something or inability to find a store etc that can afford to donate 50$ in this economy reflects badly on the child as they will be left out .
( there are many parents complaining about this so we are hoping to get it changed back to when they just asked for donations and if got enough everyone got a dress down day )
And then there's an AD campaign for my younger 2 kids school play - that's another 25$ .And another dress down day .
SO because i don't want the kids left out i am finding ways to do this as frugally as i can ,
# 1 - play ad campaign for 25$ - will use dhs business card - if not reimbursed can be a tax deduction for this year .
#2 50$ gift basket - i got a 25.88 gift basket at Kohls for ~ 7.99+ 15% more off that is a pretty wire beaded basket filled with bath / body items .- I have a 25$ GC to a nail place i was given as a gift but cannot use ( cannot be around those odors etc and i am allergic to a main ingredient in nail polish ) so out of pocket expense.. 6.79
#3 High school gift basket for fashion show- 75$ value
i decided on wall decor from clearance area at Kohls because it was nicely made - was in styles that would go with many different types of home decor- you cant be allergic to it - and is also something you can use as a nice housewarming / birthday - etc gift if the basket winner didn't want them all for themselves .
1-12x 18" collage pix frame ( black frame) with mat /says Live Laugh Love and will hold 5 separate 4x6 pictures ( retail value $ 29.99)
was 8.99 + extra 15% off so 7.64
1- 8.5-X10.5 pix frame ( black ) with mat that says Friends - holds a 7x5" pix ( RV - 19.99) 4.99 + extra 15% off = 4.24
1-7.5 x7.5 pix frame ( glass and silver ) - says Grand Kids - Laugh -Smiles on it - for table top or wall display - holds a 4x6 pix (RV- 14.99) - 4.99 + extra 15% off =4.24
1- black framed wall decor 5.5" x 11" " Pressed Flower Sentiment Sign " is a frame with mat and then double glass on top for pressing 4 flowers in between the words Dance- Love- Sing and Live on it - ( RV - 21.99) 3.99 + extra 15% off =3.39
total retail = 86. 96
total spent = 19.51
I contributed what was expected to the school without breaking my wallet .
Friday, March 6, 2009
Two ways to pay down debt .....
Spend less - make more .
Only two real ways it can be done .
There is no magic wand- secret solution to it all .
I have been on many frugal groups where people pop in and just as quick as they find out we have no secret get rich - get out of debt way to give them they pop back out . This is also why so many people get lured into scams and bad work at home opportunities , because they are desperate to find a quick and easy solution other than the ones that are obvious and take time and hard work .
Sooner or later it does settle in that one needs to lower what is going out - or increase what is going in . There are many ways to do this - second jobs - giving things up- taking in extra children at home - selling online- crafting - home demos - cutting vacations - take-out-cutting back on grocery budget or cable channels etc etc There are ways to do it - one can find myriads of suggestions if they google frugal sites filled with idead . And although not all can work for everyone with their type of jobs and location - there are some that everyone can do .
Is it easy no - and no one said it would be - many say "i cant" so many times to things they could do if they really wanted to and i think one day when they may realize its their only way they will be ready to do what they once thought they couldn't .
Many times its an "i cant" as far as giving up with spending also -but is it really a can't or a won't ? And why is it a won't ?? A good way to really look at wants vs needs is to think of what others in bad times in other countries are doing without and you realize that need is really a want .
No this is not being written as judgement on anyone - just that in these hard times we really need to look at what we really truly can and cant do vs what we don't want to do and do want to do . I have a ton of respect for people who say -yes i spend money i could be saving on ____ and this is why i make my choice " -- VS when people just say "I can't" - - i cant seems to be more a form of denial .
Honestly i really dislike the word CAN'T LOL !! "Prefer not to" is usually more the real word to use . And i know there are often very good reasons for why one decides not to do something - but to me - "can't" means 100% physically unable to ( must be the nurse in me LOL ) And even as a quadraplegic the late Christopher Reeves didn't look at what he couldnt do but rather what he could do !!
SO rather than say can't to what you dont feel is a good choice right now - look at what you can do - look for when that may be a choice you can do .
Sooooooo.... Why these musings at this time???
Well i haven't been on to post in a week or so because i have been busy working . Started the new home care job and was asked after 1 day on my own to case manage my own patients - was offered both a FT or PT position although i chose to stay per diem and still case manage cases so i can stay with my kids schedules and slow down in the summer .
I did extra work over what i had originally planned, with the goals of paying off bills as fast as possible and the fact i have my oldest dd's Sr Prom and Graduation looming in the near future .
So i took whatever they offered me and i subsequently put myself into a bad flare with my fibro . But i kept going because i am either too determined to pay down the debt or just in denial ( i am picking denial LOL !!)
And 3 days later - after resting a lot after work for 2 days ( ie going into a hot bath and then to bed before 7 to stay under a heating blanket till 10 when i actually went to sleep ) i am much better .... but i think i will watch what i am doing better !!!
So remember to not only look at what the $$$ will be but the effects on your health and family will be . i sit worth it to pay off the bills 3 months earlier if it affects your health so bad , you are in bed instead of spending time with your family ?? I have to say NO , after experiencing it !!
I could easily say " I CAN'T" work full time due to my fibro - but i still will say i prefer not to because i know its not good for my health to do that much and me being sick is not in the best interests for my family or myself.
But i will say "I CAN" work PT as long as i watch my bodies signals of when i am doing too much . I will say I CAN pay down the bills- pay cash for things with the income i am earning rather than think " i can't " pay them off as fast as if i did full time work .
Life is so much better and brighter when you look at the Cans rather than the Can'ts !!
And remember Christopher Reeves - he had so much and in an instant it all changed and he was dependent on others and machines for everything - including breathing !! And yet rather than say i cant do this or i cant do this he said :
- “I am a very lucky guy. I can testify before Congress. I can raise funds. I can raise awareness.”
What an amazing outlook on life to have .. seeing what one CAN do !!
"'So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable." - Christopher Reeves
Only two real ways it can be done .
There is no magic wand- secret solution to it all .
I have been on many frugal groups where people pop in and just as quick as they find out we have no secret get rich - get out of debt way to give them they pop back out . This is also why so many people get lured into scams and bad work at home opportunities , because they are desperate to find a quick and easy solution other than the ones that are obvious and take time and hard work .
Sooner or later it does settle in that one needs to lower what is going out - or increase what is going in . There are many ways to do this - second jobs - giving things up- taking in extra children at home - selling online- crafting - home demos - cutting vacations - take-out-cutting back on grocery budget or cable channels etc etc There are ways to do it - one can find myriads of suggestions if they google frugal sites filled with idead . And although not all can work for everyone with their type of jobs and location - there are some that everyone can do .
Is it easy no - and no one said it would be - many say "i cant" so many times to things they could do if they really wanted to and i think one day when they may realize its their only way they will be ready to do what they once thought they couldn't .
Many times its an "i cant" as far as giving up with spending also -but is it really a can't or a won't ? And why is it a won't ?? A good way to really look at wants vs needs is to think of what others in bad times in other countries are doing without and you realize that need is really a want .
No this is not being written as judgement on anyone - just that in these hard times we really need to look at what we really truly can and cant do vs what we don't want to do and do want to do . I have a ton of respect for people who say -yes i spend money i could be saving on ____ and this is why i make my choice " -- VS when people just say "I can't" - - i cant seems to be more a form of denial .
Honestly i really dislike the word CAN'T LOL !! "Prefer not to" is usually more the real word to use . And i know there are often very good reasons for why one decides not to do something - but to me - "can't" means 100% physically unable to ( must be the nurse in me LOL ) And even as a quadraplegic the late Christopher Reeves didn't look at what he couldnt do but rather what he could do !!
SO rather than say can't to what you dont feel is a good choice right now - look at what you can do - look for when that may be a choice you can do .
Sooooooo.... Why these musings at this time???
Well i haven't been on to post in a week or so because i have been busy working . Started the new home care job and was asked after 1 day on my own to case manage my own patients - was offered both a FT or PT position although i chose to stay per diem and still case manage cases so i can stay with my kids schedules and slow down in the summer .
I did extra work over what i had originally planned, with the goals of paying off bills as fast as possible and the fact i have my oldest dd's Sr Prom and Graduation looming in the near future .
So i took whatever they offered me and i subsequently put myself into a bad flare with my fibro . But i kept going because i am either too determined to pay down the debt or just in denial ( i am picking denial LOL !!)
And 3 days later - after resting a lot after work for 2 days ( ie going into a hot bath and then to bed before 7 to stay under a heating blanket till 10 when i actually went to sleep ) i am much better .... but i think i will watch what i am doing better !!!
So remember to not only look at what the $$$ will be but the effects on your health and family will be . i sit worth it to pay off the bills 3 months earlier if it affects your health so bad , you are in bed instead of spending time with your family ?? I have to say NO , after experiencing it !!
I could easily say " I CAN'T" work full time due to my fibro - but i still will say i prefer not to because i know its not good for my health to do that much and me being sick is not in the best interests for my family or myself.
But i will say "I CAN" work PT as long as i watch my bodies signals of when i am doing too much . I will say I CAN pay down the bills- pay cash for things with the income i am earning rather than think " i can't " pay them off as fast as if i did full time work .
Life is so much better and brighter when you look at the Cans rather than the Can'ts !!
And remember Christopher Reeves - he had so much and in an instant it all changed and he was dependent on others and machines for everything - including breathing !! And yet rather than say i cant do this or i cant do this he said :
- “I am a very lucky guy. I can testify before Congress. I can raise funds. I can raise awareness.”
What an amazing outlook on life to have .. seeing what one CAN do !!
"'So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable." - Christopher Reeves
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Tonights Dinner
dinner tonight is london broil - baked potatos and green beans .
london broil twin pack was just under 6$ so 1 will be 3.00
will be more than what 1 serving per person should be meat wise
potatos ~ 50c ( 5 potatoes out of a 10 lb bag that was 2.99 )
green beans - 80c ( 2 cans bought on sale for 39c each )
4.30 or 72c a person for 6 of us .
london broil twin pack was just under 6$ so 1 will be 3.00
will be more than what 1 serving per person should be meat wise
potatos ~ 50c ( 5 potatoes out of a 10 lb bag that was 2.99 )
green beans - 80c ( 2 cans bought on sale for 39c each )
4.30 or 72c a person for 6 of us .
Feeding a Family Frugally
I am able to feed my family well with less cost by shopping loss leaders.
Loss leaders are the specials the stores usually have on the front pages- those great deals that are to lead you into their store to shop - even if they take a small loss on that item- they hope to make it back many times over when you do the rest of your shopping there .
I also do some couponing although have been busy and haven't been organized with that so not doing much of that the past few months . Our stores do not sell liqueur so no wine tags and even if so for me personally its a gray area to remove a sticker or tag from something i am not buying to use it - to me its meant to go with that item its on so should only be used if that one is bought . Yes i know there is no legal ruling to say on that - just my personal preference in life . I do not look down on those who take coupons / tags off things they don't purchase and say they are wrong - that is up to them - i just feel odd about it- the thinking in my area is the store expects you to but the item to get the coupon - so don't do it - so may not save as much .
Many equate couponing with having tons of processed junky foods . Sadly sometimes the media showing the coupon queens only show the shelved stock they have- which often has a lot of hamburger helper and canned items and snacks etc and they don't show their freezer meats or their canned veggies they grew that summer - so people who have never couponed only see processed foods and get the wrong idea. I am sure some eat a lot of processed stuff - but many couponers don't even have a box of hamburger helper on their shelves .
I personally do not like the taste and to feed all of us would need 4 boxes and i can whip it up homemade just as easy - although if it came out to be free or under 25c a box i might buy some for my son at college or to donate to a food pantry .
For me couponing allows me to save some $ on items we use like cereals - toothpaste - paper and beauty aides so that i can use that saved money on meats and fresh fruits and veggies .
Sometimes it allows some treats that i normally wont buy unless a loss leader coupon special !!
And here's a secret - your kids- your husband - no one will die from starvation of they don't get their favorite treat for a few weeks . my kids LOVE fruit snacks but honestly since i haven't been keeping up with my couponing and haven't seen a cheap enough sale there haven't been any in the house for a good 2 months ...and yet they keep going along and actually after about 2 weeks of them not in the house they forget about them .
My stores also do not take Internet printed coupons unless its from their own site and even then there may be some issues because of a huge amount of fraud that went on a few years back where the stores lost thousands of dollars on free coupons people were using .
Even without couponing I am still able to do grocery shopping including all foods- pet food- litter etc for our bunny Mr Flopsy - beauty health- paper and cleaning for 500$ or less a month for 7 of us . I do buy some of the more expensive processed things to have my oldest take back down to his college house ( TV dinners - hot pockets etc )- but try to do that when its on sale only .
Although i know there are many out there who are able to do it for less- this gives me a comfort zone for my family - if i have a bad month financially- i can do it for much less if i need to. And i like knowing i can do that if necessary .
8 years ago i was doing it for 350 a month .
I do not live in some magical area where food is always the prices you will see posted here when i itemize a meal -they are usually deep discounted deals and i will stock up on them when on sale - so that London Broil for 1.69 a lb may have been in my freezer a month or so from a previous sale even though i am eating it today ( Good freezing techniques are a must for a frugal family !!!)
A good six years ago a family in my area with one less child than i have and whose children were younger than mine stated they spend over 1200$ a month on food .
At the time i was doing it for 400$ or 1/3 of that and was able to do it for 300$ or 1/4 of that if i had to .
Family members with just 4 tell me they spend 250 a week and that was a few years back so at this time i am still spending about 1/3 to 1/4 what the average family of 7 would spend on food in my area .
At this time i do allow my children to buy lunch at school and that figure is not included into my grocery bill . It was a decision made based on stress level time and affordability and the fact that even when i bought enough juice boxes - snacks etc to last the week somehow i was out buying more last minute and in the end i was only saving maybe 20$ a month - .
Two of my older kids who are in high school receive a monthly budget on the 15th of the month that allows them to buy a lunch each day OR they can buy partial lunches or brown bag and keep the money to buy something they want - go to movies etc . My way of teaching them budgeting choices just as i have to decide what to do with my monthly $$ so do they .
So that money is not included in my grocery bill either - but much of it isn't spent on lunches as they often take things in for lunch so they can spend the $ on other things.
We do the pantry principle - buy more when on sale and stock up . During this whole recent peanut butter crisis we were fine because mine had been bought way before issues were at hand and stored in my pantry .
With the pantry principle you rarely have to pay full price .
We go to a produce distribution center that has a stand and get our fruits and veggies ( which we eat a lot of here ) for about 30-50% off what they want in the grocery stores stores.
When i feel its cheaper i can go to a wonder outlet and a entemanns outlet and a pepperidge farm outlet if i am nearby one and get some items . They are not real close so its not a regular thing for me anymore.
We drink mainly water and milk - if we have soda its for a special occasion - Gatorade is bought when on sale for the oldest two for sports etc . My youngest 3 wont even drink soda they never had it when young so find the bubbles " weird " .
Because all 5 of my kids would have GI issues from apple juice and hated grape juice and my youngest had red dye issues and sugar sensitivities we really don't have juice boxes around but in the summer for freezing and taking to pool etc .
We don't really have kool aide or fruit punches or ice tea either .
Milk - OJ and the ice cold water that comes filtered from our fridge are our usual drinks ,
lemonade at times especially in the summer - hot cocoa in the winter .
So i think i save a lot on drinks compared to other families .
And when out at b-day parties - friends houses etc my kids ask for water much to the amazement of their friends parents who usually are offering soda and punches .
I will watch the meat departments at stores- certain stores i do not do this at because i am not happy with the quality when its finally marked down but many will mark down meats by 1-3$ or 50% off when its a day away from their sell by date . If i can find a good deal say the already on sale boneless chicken breasts and then get more off that's a great double play in the meat department .
I do not spend a lot of time wandering stores to do this - but if i come upon a good deal i stock up the freezer with meats .
We buy our milk at the local CVS or Minimart - we may pay 10c more a gallon but time wise and the fact we arent tempted to buy anything the store has sitting out saves us a lot more than the 10c we spend and sometimes its actually cheaper there - because CVS is hoping to get you to buy more or the Minimart if attached to a gas station will have it lower hoping you will get gas while there too.
Aldis- i go to Aldis once every month or two to stock up on some canned soups -snacks and other items that i use as ingredients for cooking . And sometimes just some specials they have on things and some treats for the kids ( they love their french toast sticks )
Bulk cooking - although i don't do 30 day cooking ( that would put me in a fibro flare for sure !!) i do bulk cook - if the ingredients for lasagna are on sale - i make 4 have one for dinner freeze the other 3 for future dinners .
Big ground beef sale ?? I bulk brown some ground beef - some i just put into freezer baggies browned to add to later meals - some i add taco flavoring to and freeze for future taco dinners and the same with sloppy joes . One time messy stove...... several dinners !!
Just a lot of little things i do and at this point just do subconsciously that are a big part of saving $$ when feeding a family .
Please feel free to add what you do to the comments !!
Loss leaders are the specials the stores usually have on the front pages- those great deals that are to lead you into their store to shop - even if they take a small loss on that item- they hope to make it back many times over when you do the rest of your shopping there .
I also do some couponing although have been busy and haven't been organized with that so not doing much of that the past few months . Our stores do not sell liqueur so no wine tags and even if so for me personally its a gray area to remove a sticker or tag from something i am not buying to use it - to me its meant to go with that item its on so should only be used if that one is bought . Yes i know there is no legal ruling to say on that - just my personal preference in life . I do not look down on those who take coupons / tags off things they don't purchase and say they are wrong - that is up to them - i just feel odd about it- the thinking in my area is the store expects you to but the item to get the coupon - so don't do it - so may not save as much .
Many equate couponing with having tons of processed junky foods . Sadly sometimes the media showing the coupon queens only show the shelved stock they have- which often has a lot of hamburger helper and canned items and snacks etc and they don't show their freezer meats or their canned veggies they grew that summer - so people who have never couponed only see processed foods and get the wrong idea. I am sure some eat a lot of processed stuff - but many couponers don't even have a box of hamburger helper on their shelves .
I personally do not like the taste and to feed all of us would need 4 boxes and i can whip it up homemade just as easy - although if it came out to be free or under 25c a box i might buy some for my son at college or to donate to a food pantry .
For me couponing allows me to save some $ on items we use like cereals - toothpaste - paper and beauty aides so that i can use that saved money on meats and fresh fruits and veggies .
Sometimes it allows some treats that i normally wont buy unless a loss leader coupon special !!
And here's a secret - your kids- your husband - no one will die from starvation of they don't get their favorite treat for a few weeks . my kids LOVE fruit snacks but honestly since i haven't been keeping up with my couponing and haven't seen a cheap enough sale there haven't been any in the house for a good 2 months ...and yet they keep going along and actually after about 2 weeks of them not in the house they forget about them .
My stores also do not take Internet printed coupons unless its from their own site and even then there may be some issues because of a huge amount of fraud that went on a few years back where the stores lost thousands of dollars on free coupons people were using .
Even without couponing I am still able to do grocery shopping including all foods- pet food- litter etc for our bunny Mr Flopsy - beauty health- paper and cleaning for 500$ or less a month for 7 of us . I do buy some of the more expensive processed things to have my oldest take back down to his college house ( TV dinners - hot pockets etc )- but try to do that when its on sale only .
Although i know there are many out there who are able to do it for less- this gives me a comfort zone for my family - if i have a bad month financially- i can do it for much less if i need to. And i like knowing i can do that if necessary .
8 years ago i was doing it for 350 a month .
I do not live in some magical area where food is always the prices you will see posted here when i itemize a meal -they are usually deep discounted deals and i will stock up on them when on sale - so that London Broil for 1.69 a lb may have been in my freezer a month or so from a previous sale even though i am eating it today ( Good freezing techniques are a must for a frugal family !!!)
A good six years ago a family in my area with one less child than i have and whose children were younger than mine stated they spend over 1200$ a month on food .
At the time i was doing it for 400$ or 1/3 of that and was able to do it for 300$ or 1/4 of that if i had to .
Family members with just 4 tell me they spend 250 a week and that was a few years back so at this time i am still spending about 1/3 to 1/4 what the average family of 7 would spend on food in my area .
At this time i do allow my children to buy lunch at school and that figure is not included into my grocery bill . It was a decision made based on stress level time and affordability and the fact that even when i bought enough juice boxes - snacks etc to last the week somehow i was out buying more last minute and in the end i was only saving maybe 20$ a month - .
Two of my older kids who are in high school receive a monthly budget on the 15th of the month that allows them to buy a lunch each day OR they can buy partial lunches or brown bag and keep the money to buy something they want - go to movies etc . My way of teaching them budgeting choices just as i have to decide what to do with my monthly $$ so do they .
So that money is not included in my grocery bill either - but much of it isn't spent on lunches as they often take things in for lunch so they can spend the $ on other things.
We do the pantry principle - buy more when on sale and stock up . During this whole recent peanut butter crisis we were fine because mine had been bought way before issues were at hand and stored in my pantry .
With the pantry principle you rarely have to pay full price .
We go to a produce distribution center that has a stand and get our fruits and veggies ( which we eat a lot of here ) for about 30-50% off what they want in the grocery stores stores.
When i feel its cheaper i can go to a wonder outlet and a entemanns outlet and a pepperidge farm outlet if i am nearby one and get some items . They are not real close so its not a regular thing for me anymore.
We drink mainly water and milk - if we have soda its for a special occasion - Gatorade is bought when on sale for the oldest two for sports etc . My youngest 3 wont even drink soda they never had it when young so find the bubbles " weird " .
Because all 5 of my kids would have GI issues from apple juice and hated grape juice and my youngest had red dye issues and sugar sensitivities we really don't have juice boxes around but in the summer for freezing and taking to pool etc .
We don't really have kool aide or fruit punches or ice tea either .
Milk - OJ and the ice cold water that comes filtered from our fridge are our usual drinks ,
lemonade at times especially in the summer - hot cocoa in the winter .
So i think i save a lot on drinks compared to other families .
And when out at b-day parties - friends houses etc my kids ask for water much to the amazement of their friends parents who usually are offering soda and punches .
I will watch the meat departments at stores- certain stores i do not do this at because i am not happy with the quality when its finally marked down but many will mark down meats by 1-3$ or 50% off when its a day away from their sell by date . If i can find a good deal say the already on sale boneless chicken breasts and then get more off that's a great double play in the meat department .
I do not spend a lot of time wandering stores to do this - but if i come upon a good deal i stock up the freezer with meats .
We buy our milk at the local CVS or Minimart - we may pay 10c more a gallon but time wise and the fact we arent tempted to buy anything the store has sitting out saves us a lot more than the 10c we spend and sometimes its actually cheaper there - because CVS is hoping to get you to buy more or the Minimart if attached to a gas station will have it lower hoping you will get gas while there too.
Aldis- i go to Aldis once every month or two to stock up on some canned soups -snacks and other items that i use as ingredients for cooking . And sometimes just some specials they have on things and some treats for the kids ( they love their french toast sticks )
Bulk cooking - although i don't do 30 day cooking ( that would put me in a fibro flare for sure !!) i do bulk cook - if the ingredients for lasagna are on sale - i make 4 have one for dinner freeze the other 3 for future dinners .
Big ground beef sale ?? I bulk brown some ground beef - some i just put into freezer baggies browned to add to later meals - some i add taco flavoring to and freeze for future taco dinners and the same with sloppy joes . One time messy stove...... several dinners !!
Just a lot of little things i do and at this point just do subconsciously that are a big part of saving $$ when feeding a family .
Please feel free to add what you do to the comments !!
Monday, February 23, 2009
COMING SOON ....
The frugal kitchen and bathroom redo are done - pix have been taken and i just need to edit them and figure out the actual cost and hopefully by end of week i will post the results and what it cost !!
Crazy surprising weekend !!
My sons unfrugal birthday party went very well !! It was run nicely and the food was good and all had fun . I was tired and ready to rest when i got home as i had decided on impulse Thursday to repaint my bathroom and had spent Friday night and Saturdays AM finishing it up as my oldest 2 kids had their boyfriends and girlfriends coming over later that day .
well the surprise was on me - i walked into my house and get yelled at SURPRISE !!
I was stunned at first i was like who are they yelling surprise to and what for !!
Then i looked around and saw all my friends from PA i don't get to see often . Some i hadn't seen for 5 years because just life and schedules getting in the way !! Then i was thinking but why are they here until they started singing happy birthday LOL !! Of course my birthday was a few weeks before and it wasn't one of the " special " #'s that you usually get a surprise party for but he knew to get me that's how he would have to do it !!
It was especially nice because it was just my out of state friends - done that way so i didn't feel like i had to be properly polite and spend time socializing with friends and family i get to see regularly and miss out on spending time with these friends i don't see very often !! So it was just them .
DH had even arranged for hoagie trays and pizza and i said Hmm he did this so well i may let him take over for the communion party and the graduation party we will be having this year for 2 of the kids !!!
Anyway i have no idea how much he spent , he saved his own money for it as my birthday gift and i have to say it was a priceless and extremely thoughtful gift !!
First time i have ever been surprised - i had no birthdays growing up due to my moms religion and i knew when i was being proposed to and figured out my wedding and baby showers so i think i was still stunned the next AM.!!
Funniest thing is that they had me running around cleaning that AM for my own party !!!
well the surprise was on me - i walked into my house and get yelled at SURPRISE !!
I was stunned at first i was like who are they yelling surprise to and what for !!
Then i looked around and saw all my friends from PA i don't get to see often . Some i hadn't seen for 5 years because just life and schedules getting in the way !! Then i was thinking but why are they here until they started singing happy birthday LOL !! Of course my birthday was a few weeks before and it wasn't one of the " special " #'s that you usually get a surprise party for but he knew to get me that's how he would have to do it !!
It was especially nice because it was just my out of state friends - done that way so i didn't feel like i had to be properly polite and spend time socializing with friends and family i get to see regularly and miss out on spending time with these friends i don't see very often !! So it was just them .
DH had even arranged for hoagie trays and pizza and i said Hmm he did this so well i may let him take over for the communion party and the graduation party we will be having this year for 2 of the kids !!!
Anyway i have no idea how much he spent , he saved his own money for it as my birthday gift and i have to say it was a priceless and extremely thoughtful gift !!
First time i have ever been surprised - i had no birthdays growing up due to my moms religion and i knew when i was being proposed to and figured out my wedding and baby showers so i think i was still stunned the next AM.!!
Funniest thing is that they had me running around cleaning that AM for my own party !!!
some crazy shopping deals this past month !!
i have had the luck to run into some crazy shopping deals this past month !!
While i am frugal i am not anti credit cards when used in certain ways - ( ie for the most part my belief is that if u dont hae the cash to pay it off right away - dont use one - although if it came between putting brakes on my car and feeding my family - paying for medical things i would use one even if i didnt have the cash )
many - especially store cards can reap you many benefits with what you get in mailers etc
J C Penneys is one that i easily get 100$ worth of free things with - they send me a 15$ off 15$ coupon for my birthday month and then quite afew times a yera i get a 10$ off 10$ etc and then i hit the clearance racks - go gift hunting etc .
This month being my birthday month i recieved quite a few coupons fron JCP , kohls and Victorias secret .
I took a 10 off 10 kohls coupon i was sent for my birthday and i had a 30% off coupon i got in my flyer hit the clearance racks and got myself 2 pairs of jeans basically free after coupon and 30% off - also picked up a few summer tops for dds trip to DW for senior class trip for 3$ each .
RV for this trip was over 175$ and i spent about 15$ out of pocket .
used my 15$ of 15$ coupon i got for my b-day at JCP and got 2 things for the bathroom decor 1.97 each from 17.99 each originally - ( next on my needs some work list is the bathroom )
2 sweatshirts that say grandpop and something else on them for fil for his b-day ( oct ) and for cmas for 4.97 each and a dress shirt for dh for 4.97 and used the coupon and i paid like 3.xx overage for all of it !!
.then i went downstairs to shoes- kids - woman's etc and got17 yo dd a cmas gift for next year - it was a 280$ leather jacket in a nicer dressier style ( kind of buttoned like a pea coat ) that was on sale for 49.99 minus 15% off coupon i had so ~ 42$ then i had the 2 10$ gift cards from mypoints so it was 22.xx$ saved more than 90% off retail value .
went to victorias secret i had 2 10$ cards they had sent me for my B-day month - i got 2 clearance mini make up bags with those spray scents they have -( has three mini's in there a spray a lotion - not sure what the 3rd is ) and a hand lotion that was 75% offRV all together was 36$ -after coupons i paid 2.00 . one was a V-day gift for17 yo - one will be stuck in her Easter basket . will save the lotion for a gift for later in case she needs something small for a friend .
i come home and i find a 10$ off 10$ or more JCP coupon in my mail !!
so next day i check out another JCP .
they were having a huge clearance in the mens dept they were remodeling !! i got my dh's valentines gift - not very romantic but practical - mens nice solid medium khaki / brownish suit / sports coat - by IZOD orig $$275 said 29.99 and i thought that was a deal because he uses them for work -but it rang up 9.99 and i used a 15% off coupon on it and the rest of the things ( shirts / sweatshirts for older 2 boys and dh for next cmas that i got for 1.97 each ) in the end his suit jacket was just 8.49 and i only paid 24.xx
i got 8 items all together and the receipt says i paid 24.43 and saved 557.59 !!
a few things are Cmas gifts for next year for dh and the boys -!!
then i checked out the home decor got a 3 things for my kitchen or bathroom 4.97 each minus 2.xx for 15% off minus the 10$ coupon from mail - i paid under 4$ cash and according to the receipt i saved 95$ !!!
in shoe dept i got one son vans style shoes in a size away on clearance and younger dd school shoes on clearance next size up - paid 11.94 saved 66.06$
My favorite kind of shopping !!!!
so all together i paid 40.34 out of pocket
and saved 718.65 !!
While i am frugal i am not anti credit cards when used in certain ways - ( ie for the most part my belief is that if u dont hae the cash to pay it off right away - dont use one - although if it came between putting brakes on my car and feeding my family - paying for medical things i would use one even if i didnt have the cash )
many - especially store cards can reap you many benefits with what you get in mailers etc
J C Penneys is one that i easily get 100$ worth of free things with - they send me a 15$ off 15$ coupon for my birthday month and then quite afew times a yera i get a 10$ off 10$ etc and then i hit the clearance racks - go gift hunting etc .
This month being my birthday month i recieved quite a few coupons fron JCP , kohls and Victorias secret .
I took a 10 off 10 kohls coupon i was sent for my birthday and i had a 30% off coupon i got in my flyer hit the clearance racks and got myself 2 pairs of jeans basically free after coupon and 30% off - also picked up a few summer tops for dds trip to DW for senior class trip for 3$ each .
RV for this trip was over 175$ and i spent about 15$ out of pocket .
used my 15$ of 15$ coupon i got for my b-day at JCP and got 2 things for the bathroom decor 1.97 each from 17.99 each originally - ( next on my needs some work list is the bathroom )
2 sweatshirts that say grandpop and something else on them for fil for his b-day ( oct ) and for cmas for 4.97 each and a dress shirt for dh for 4.97 and used the coupon and i paid like 3.xx overage for all of it !!
.then i went downstairs to shoes- kids - woman's etc and got17 yo dd a cmas gift for next year - it was a 280$ leather jacket in a nicer dressier style ( kind of buttoned like a pea coat ) that was on sale for 49.99 minus 15% off coupon i had so ~ 42$ then i had the 2 10$ gift cards from mypoints so it was 22.xx$ saved more than 90% off retail value .
went to victorias secret i had 2 10$ cards they had sent me for my B-day month - i got 2 clearance mini make up bags with those spray scents they have -( has three mini's in there a spray a lotion - not sure what the 3rd is ) and a hand lotion that was 75% offRV all together was 36$ -after coupons i paid 2.00 . one was a V-day gift for17 yo - one will be stuck in her Easter basket . will save the lotion for a gift for later in case she needs something small for a friend .
i come home and i find a 10$ off 10$ or more JCP coupon in my mail !!
so next day i check out another JCP .
they were having a huge clearance in the mens dept they were remodeling !! i got my dh's valentines gift - not very romantic but practical - mens nice solid medium khaki / brownish suit / sports coat - by IZOD orig $$275 said 29.99 and i thought that was a deal because he uses them for work -but it rang up 9.99 and i used a 15% off coupon on it and the rest of the things ( shirts / sweatshirts for older 2 boys and dh for next cmas that i got for 1.97 each ) in the end his suit jacket was just 8.49 and i only paid 24.xx
i got 8 items all together and the receipt says i paid 24.43 and saved 557.59 !!
a few things are Cmas gifts for next year for dh and the boys -!!
then i checked out the home decor got a 3 things for my kitchen or bathroom 4.97 each minus 2.xx for 15% off minus the 10$ coupon from mail - i paid under 4$ cash and according to the receipt i saved 95$ !!!
in shoe dept i got one son vans style shoes in a size away on clearance and younger dd school shoes on clearance next size up - paid 11.94 saved 66.06$
My favorite kind of shopping !!!!
so all together i paid 40.34 out of pocket
and saved 718.65 !!
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