guidance with getting frugal?

[tammy88]

ok..
i would like to find out how to get started..i was doing alright when money was really tight a few months ago with groceries but had lots of compliants that there was nothing quick to heat and eat ..i was spending around 60-70 a week at kroger....well baby came and now we get formula and more diapers..im working on potty training my 3 year old (argh) but im spending at least 140- a week sometimes more depending on how many times i go back and we had the money to spend too..i have minimized some bills with the tax money and the puppy money i made some of my utilies are paid for a few months, power, cell phone, auto insurance...


how can i get started saving money and the store and stocking up at the same time... i dont always have 100 to spend a week

i did start up the waytosave account with wachovia...so cool

i have a large pickle jar we are throwing change in

my mom has me worried about this recession and the stuff i have seen in the news lately..

gas i put about 30 a week in my durango im a sahm
my husband mainly drives a work truck..the company is contracted through 2011 on jobs (thank god) he is a vp there and is happy..
i do have a new gym membership 35 a month but that includes day care and i really really want to loose weigh so im just not gonna cancel that...besides moneys good i just want to get a better handle on saving and and buying things...

not too much debt..paying on some medical bills i send them 5-10 a month (except in april they got nothing ..to short on paychecks in april)
paying on my bankruptcy i cant wait until thats over...2 more years..i think i will take next years taxes and pay it off..then pull our credit a few months later and see whats left to pay off..
i only have 2 little credit cards and i like having them..i send 20 bucks a month only owe couple hundred on each...low apr

i guess i just need help really on the groceries and stocking up..coupons, rebates, shopping by the ads..
and of course any other tips..

[Dancing Lotus]

visit www.couponmom.com

[itlw8]

ll it is a bit too late for the biggest money saver Breast feeding saves a ton of money but have you checked out parents choice formula from Walmart ? it is equal to the name brand formulas and 1/2 the cost you can go online and get a days sample to compare.

diapers.... go green and go cloth it takes 500 years for a disposable diaper to break down. You will save 2 tons of money using cloth and with the covers and folded diapers there are no pins... if the poop factor bothers you there are nice little liners that the poop will stay in for easy clean up.

fast food to grab and eat... convienence food costs a fortune so make your own bake and freeze muffins cookies, pancakes french toast

make your own pizza

cook double a freeze for fast meals.

[tammy88]

hi

well i did breast feed the first 2 months but i wasnt good about it once he got more demanding..it took 40 minutes for him to feed and he was still hungary he starting eating baby food around 2 month too i just can sit still that long i have too many people demanding my attention..it sucked i did like breast feeding some but everytime i get started my 3 year old would get into something or the phone would ring constantly or someone would need a diaper change or someone else was hungary/thirsty and i havent developed that thing called...hmmm patience.......lol

we do use kroger formula and its 10 somthing for a large container

we order in/eat out toooooooo much! i know that for fact!

i am freezing leftovers more and more

my 3 year old is wearing underwear more often which i guess is like cloth diapers and i hate cleaning them..just ew..LOL but i do agree it would be cheaper and better for the world..but sometime people just cant adjust that easily. =)

[Frugal Cook]

ok..
how can i get started saving money and the store and stocking up at the same time... i dont always have 100 to spend a week

Sometimes it is the very lack of funds that gets you started. All it takes is adding one(1) extra can on your shopping trip. After awhile it begins to add up before you realize it.

I lost a $70K+ income and went 7 years without a job, until I went on Social Security. Talk about a reality check. I gradually changed my thinking and learned that we can live quite well at any income level. On my limited SS income I almost live like a king, yet I'm way below the poverty level and live in Southern California.

I take advantage of the local Food Banks which give me that extra edge of the food situation. If you look around you may find ways to get/do things better.

My main recommendation is "just start" and don't try to do it all in one month. It may take a year or two. It will all come together in time.

[SewCrafty]

Living frugally takes a lot of work, especially if you didn't grow up that way and it is just second nature for some of us.

Start small, food bill is a great place to start. If you have $100 to spend for the week, use $90 for what's on your list and $10 to stock up on unperishables (can goods, pasta, rice etc...)

Here is the work part: You HAVE to have your sales flyers and coupons to go through BEFORE you go shopping. Make a list and stick to it as best you can, this way you won't impluse shop.

Try going at least 1-2 nights a week with a meatless meal or only use meat as a flavor/condiment. i.e. vegetable lasagna, vegetable soup w/ homemade bread that sort of thing.

Sorry but formula and diapers I can't help you on. I was not able to have children so can't help you there.

[barb7]

I'm rather new to this also and the first thing I did was quit going out to eat. It is amazing how much difference that makes. I think once you pick something and actually see some results from it you will get hooked on the idea. I'm also reading the "Tightwad Gazette", which as much as giving me a LOT of ideas, has also helped get me in the right mindset. Instead of feeling deprived by not spending, I feel successful by not spending. This website is also a real boost to my efforts. Good luck!

[Megareader]

Check your library for books on frugality. Remember, the library is your friend!

[Bethany]

You will be amazed at what you can get for free at the drugstore with the free after rebate. I spent 33 dollars the other day, I saved well over 25 (caN'T remember exact numbers) and I'm expecting a 15 dollar rebate check. So, I actually spent 13 dollars on over 50 dollars worth of stuff. Here's a brief list of what I got:
two packs of sanitary napkins
a blistex
six packs of wrapping paper
nine rolls of toilet paper
three packs of floss
a toothbrush
two Playtex gloves
four large tissue boxes
two large (five hundred count) ear swabs
three ladies deoderant
ibuprofen
kid's mouth rinse
I was so happy with my loot. But I studied the flyer and my coupons for atleast 1/2 hour before I left the house before I could make that shopping trip happen. Was it worth it? OH YES!!! I have two small kids, so I know it's tough to find the time to do your homework, but it's so worth it.

[Siebrie]

Maybe you can have some fruit in the house for those moments that your housemates want something to 'heat and eat'? Or make a big pan of soup and freeze it in single portions?

It helps if you can change your housemates' behaviour of 'grazing', which costs a lot of money.

[staciah]

The first things I started to save money on where :

1 Shop at Aldi's and Dollar Tree
2 Buy Energy Saving Light Bulbs (they do Work)
3 No more Eating out (only Special Occasions)
4 Start a Savings with any extra $
5 Use Coupons
6 Use Vinegar and Baking Soda for Cleaning Products
7 Start Going to the Goodwill for kids clothes
8 lower you utility bills
9 Start cooking from scratch
10 don't buy on impulse
11 Set a budget and stick to it.
12 Start hanging your laundry to dry
13 use cold water for you laundry
14 unplug items that are not being used (it will lower you electric bill)
15 Grow a garden or start growing some herbs
16 Put bricks in you toilet tank to save on water
17 shop at the store just once a week (if you need to keep going back to get stuff you will impulse buy and waste gas)
18 Look for free amusement (take the kids for walks - that will help you lose weight and then maybe you can stop the gym membership)
19 Go to the library and rent movies
20 Read all you can about being frugal

[TheRootedNomad]

My mother makes her own TV dinners that she freezes for that heat and eat luxery. Whatever she's made for dinner she portions the leftovers out into individual dinners and freezes.

I don't get this specific with portions but I do frequently make double batches so that we have one and I freeze one. I also generally make sure there are some easy, well liked leftovers in the fridge such as pasta for the "heat and eat" purpose.

[dianne9106]

My husband will be the first to feel your pain on cloth diapering - I cloth diapered our DD for her first year and he was so happy when I switched to disposables! I use mainly eco diapers from our commissary - but I have not seen them anywhere else - they are cheaper than the national brand of regular diapers. But use coupons and sales and compare and see if they store brand is cheaper. Stock up on these - you can even sometimes find them cheap on Craigslist or eBay if someone stocked up too much and then there child outgrew them. Kroger can be a little spendy - so shop around at the discount stores that were mentioned before - but they do have some awesome sales at times.
Do sign up for free formula and coupons Do you qualify for WIC? It is an awesome program that helps with nutrition for the whole family - to include your DS. We got it when we were stationed overseas, I breastfeed but DS and his buddies drank me out of house and home of milk and juice!!
There is no fault in having a gym membership - count that for your entertainment and compensate for it in another area of your budget. Lastly read the Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey or perhaps read or try to take the course for Financial Peace University He will help you really change your thinking on things - thus helping frugality comes easier. Best Wishes! Dianne

[itlw8]

we spend far to much on diet soda.... ice tea is far cheaper I just need to have it ready and dh will choose it for us that is a $20 a month savings.

I also buy food and forget to fix it and waste it.. so planning menus and snacks ahead of time help.... I would like to say before I shop but I have not made it that far yet.

Also I save alot of money NOT buying things on sale unless I have a need for it a real need. I could save us bankrupt if I bought everything I saw at a great price.

This weekend we went garage saling but did something new and took a list We found everything on that list at a great price and walked past many things I wanted but did not really need... Taking dh with me made the difference but really made it less fun.... I think I get a kick from the hunt and tend to spend too much.


For me lack of planning is what causes me to spend to much money so the solution must be to be more organized.


As far as stockpiling make sure you USE and rotate or it will go to waste. I have a large pantry but only bought and stocked when on sales But we also use it not just save for a disaster.

Same with the freezer... It is good to have meat on hand but not if it is getting old while you buy fresh and eat that each week.



dh makes popcorn for snacks and it is much cheaper than chips Though we eat alot of those in tomato season with fresh salsa.



don't worry about the BF you tried it happens.... you are still a great mom. They make it sound so easy and for some of us it is but support is helpful... I had no idea about the kroger brand good to know.



We also tend to pick at food on the table or take seconds when we are not really hungry. Part of the reason we are overweight. So I dish up the main dish and package it for a second meal or lunches and only take the veggies to the table.... It saves us money and calories.

[mombottoo]

Okay, you spent $630.61 on groceries for April, yet you also spent $359.03 eating out...that's one place you could start. Stop eating out so often or ordering to eat in.

I'm guessing you have 4 people 2 adults/1 3 yr. old & an infant? If you qualify for WIC use it, it will save you tremendously on the cost of formula and both of your children would qualify since they are under 5. So you would also get cereal, cheese, milk, juice and peanut butter I believe in addition to the formula.

Cloth diapers and real training pants are also a great idea. The ewww factor doesn't hold much weight with me since I used cloth diapers and real training pants for all 4 of my kids. The ewww factor might also help get the 3 year old trained quicker ! You could still use throw away diapers for when you go away if that'd make you feel better .

Figure out your budget, what $$ you have coming in and go from there. Write down every copper penny you spend for an entire month, I think you will be amazed at how much money is sliding through your fingers...I know I was! Then figure out ways to plug the leaks...