Hoosier Momma
01-30-2007, 05:20 PM
Just thought I would share some of the successes we have had around here with living more frugally:
*Dh either takes leftovers for lunch, has one of those 'cup of noodles', or makes sandwiches.
*We have cut WAY back on soda--we drink a lot more water, iced tea, milk, and juice. Dh will take one with his lunch, which is why we mainly buy them to begin with.
*I have begun hanging clothes a lot more to dry. Some things I just have to put in the dryer like sheets and towels, socks and underwear, jeans. My dryer is getting less of a workout.
*We are using less water in the following ways: running the dishwasher 3-4 times a week versus daily; taking shorter showers and baths; doing laundry fewer times per week.
*I have a menu ready for the following week by Friday, and I build the grocery list from that. I also jot down things that we are low on during the week so that I am not rummaging so much trying to figure out what we need. This also cuts down on 'extra' trips to the grocery during the week because I forgot something. Plus, sticking to the menu even when you don't feel like it pay off!
*Using bleach, ammonia, and the like for cleaning. Using rags more than paper towels. Made my own Febreze with fabric softener and water.
*I have been selling books online...I spent way too much on them last year and there is no way I will ever read them all. I think I have made close $100 in the last couple of weeks.
*We have only eaten out once this month, and we used a buy one,get one at McDonald's and spent less than $8 for 5 people (no sodas, we just brought it home)
*Baking cookies and other treats from scratch. Make a lot of other items from scratch that I normally wouldn't. I have discovered how versatile potatoes are!
*Have applied for a couple of jobs, had one interview, and am planning on looking at a few other places this week. Extra income will be used to tackle van loan and to finance dd's school tuition for next year.
*Have tried to borrow instead of buy, especially when it comes to something we'll only use once or twice.
*Have turned off extra lights, TVs, and unplugged appliances like the toaster and such when appropriate.
*Stuck to not turning up the thermostat just because we're cold!
*Shopping as much as possible at Aldi, Big Lots, and dollar stores. Saturday we only purchased 5 items at WalMart (everything else at Aldi and Big Lots). We've come $100+ under grocery budget this month (and that includes toiletries and paper goods)
*Have turned to generics for more items or make our own if possible.
*Have learned to reuse containers (like for making cleaning products and such)
*Using plastic shopping bags instead of trash can liners in the small cans
Those are the ones I can think of--I'm sure there are a few more.
I would still like to:
*Start cutting out coupons (although no place around does double coupons)
*Make gifts more often instead of purchasing (which is why I want to learn to knit)
*Learn more about sewing to make clothes when possible
*Start putting away $ in an emergency fund (which will happen when the tax refund comes in)
*Try to fix things instead of tossing them immediately
*During the warm months, hang clothes outside
I will come up with more, but I'm still learning.
And none of this would have been possible without this board!:grball:
*Dh either takes leftovers for lunch, has one of those 'cup of noodles', or makes sandwiches.
*We have cut WAY back on soda--we drink a lot more water, iced tea, milk, and juice. Dh will take one with his lunch, which is why we mainly buy them to begin with.
*I have begun hanging clothes a lot more to dry. Some things I just have to put in the dryer like sheets and towels, socks and underwear, jeans. My dryer is getting less of a workout.
*We are using less water in the following ways: running the dishwasher 3-4 times a week versus daily; taking shorter showers and baths; doing laundry fewer times per week.
*I have a menu ready for the following week by Friday, and I build the grocery list from that. I also jot down things that we are low on during the week so that I am not rummaging so much trying to figure out what we need. This also cuts down on 'extra' trips to the grocery during the week because I forgot something. Plus, sticking to the menu even when you don't feel like it pay off!
*Using bleach, ammonia, and the like for cleaning. Using rags more than paper towels. Made my own Febreze with fabric softener and water.
*I have been selling books online...I spent way too much on them last year and there is no way I will ever read them all. I think I have made close $100 in the last couple of weeks.
*We have only eaten out once this month, and we used a buy one,get one at McDonald's and spent less than $8 for 5 people (no sodas, we just brought it home)
*Baking cookies and other treats from scratch. Make a lot of other items from scratch that I normally wouldn't. I have discovered how versatile potatoes are!
*Have applied for a couple of jobs, had one interview, and am planning on looking at a few other places this week. Extra income will be used to tackle van loan and to finance dd's school tuition for next year.
*Have tried to borrow instead of buy, especially when it comes to something we'll only use once or twice.
*Have turned off extra lights, TVs, and unplugged appliances like the toaster and such when appropriate.
*Stuck to not turning up the thermostat just because we're cold!
*Shopping as much as possible at Aldi, Big Lots, and dollar stores. Saturday we only purchased 5 items at WalMart (everything else at Aldi and Big Lots). We've come $100+ under grocery budget this month (and that includes toiletries and paper goods)
*Have turned to generics for more items or make our own if possible.
*Have learned to reuse containers (like for making cleaning products and such)
*Using plastic shopping bags instead of trash can liners in the small cans
Those are the ones I can think of--I'm sure there are a few more.
I would still like to:
*Start cutting out coupons (although no place around does double coupons)
*Make gifts more often instead of purchasing (which is why I want to learn to knit)
*Learn more about sewing to make clothes when possible
*Start putting away $ in an emergency fund (which will happen when the tax refund comes in)
*Try to fix things instead of tossing them immediately
*During the warm months, hang clothes outside
I will come up with more, but I'm still learning.
And none of this would have been possible without this board!:grball: