March 2009 Archives

Here is the next installment of EML's Tightwad Tuesday.

For quite some time, I didn't use coupons because we didn't get the newspaper and they didn't come in the mail. However, after reading a number of blogs that showed the wonderful deals they got by using coupons I thought it might be worth it to buy the Sunday paper. We have received the newspaper for 3 weeks now and it has already paid for itself. I also discovered that you can print many coupons on-line from manufacture websites and other coupon sites. It can be a little overwhelming at first, but is well worth the time and effort. Here are a few things that help me with my coupon chipping.

1. Don't clip every single coupon. I only clip coupons for products that I actually use or similar products.

2. Keep them in a coupon holder or binder of some kind and organizer them in the way that works for you. I have them filed by category and then put the ones that expire in two weeks in the front so they won't go to waste.

3. After you make up your shopping list for the week or two, pick out the coupons you plan to use and paper clip them to your list. That way when you actually get to the store you have them right there and you don't have to be search for them.

4. Bring your coupon holder with you, in case you remember something you need that you didn't list or see a clearance item at a good deal. I have a small coupon holder that I keep in my purse so I have it ever where I go. I usually give it to my daughter to hold it so she gets used to using coupons. Of course, she is only 7 months old so I think she just thinks of it as something to chew on. :)

5. Start small. You hear about people who buy $100 of groceries for $10, but I am sure they have been at it for a long time. If you expect that from yourself on your first shopping trip with coupons and you don't reach it, you may get down on yourself and then give up. Any money you save is good even if it is a few dollars. As you shop with coupons more and more often, you will become a pro and be getting $100 or groceries for $10 or less.

Below are some blogs about coupons that I have found helpful:

Coupon Cravings
http://www.couponcravings.com/

Money Saving Mom
http://www.moneysavingmom.com/

Frugal in Virginia
http://www.frugalinvirginia.com/

Let me know how you do your coupon clipping.

Bobbi's note: I must admit that I hate clipping or carrying coupons. Or when I do take them to the store, I forget all about them until AFTER I've already paid and am back home. Last week I thought I'd give the coupon thing another try so instead of paperclipping the coupons to my shopping list, which I tend to shove in my pocket when I am unloading the groceries and then forget to take back out, I stuck them with my money so I am sure to see them before I pay. It paid off because I bought about $30 worth of food for $10. My sister's good habits are starting to rub off on me! And as an added incentive, I take whatever money I've saved by using coupons and place it in a jar. The hassle becomes much more bearable when I see the dollars being saved for something fun - like our next trip to Disneyland. :-) So start that clipping!

I am happy to see that my sis EML has started her own blog called Barefoot and Sometimes Pregnant. Be sure to check it out!

Our prayers have gone out to the families that were killed in the plane crash in Montana. Sadly, it was the family of Irving 'Bud' Feldkamp, who is owner of the largest for-profit abortion chain in the nation. The 17 California Family Planning clinics perform more abortions in the state of California than any other abortion provider - Planned Parenthood included. The ironic part is that the plane crashed in a Catholic cemetery near the "Tomb of the Unborn," a memorial dedicated to all babies who have died because of abortion. Maybe in some way good will come out of this horrible situation if it touches Feldkamp's heart to see that the tragedy of lost life includes the loss of the unborn.

Family of Irving 'Bud' Feldkamp, Owner of the Nation's Largest Privately Owned Abortion Chain, Dies in Montana Plane Crash - Christian Newswire

I just watched this with Bella and it was a great learning tool. We loved it. (And where else can you see R2D2 in the Passion story? LOL!)

To see Part 2, click here.

There is a beautiful article over at Faith and Family Mag about a woman surrendering her womb to God - whether you have many kids, no kids or suffering miscarriages. It seemed very timely since friends have been going through many of these stages. check it out at Surrendering Our Wombs: The Lesson of the Annunciation

Here is the next installment of EML's money saving tips.

Homemade

Making things from scratch is a great way to save money and you have the added benefit of knowing exactly what is in your food. While it does take some planning it is well worth the effort and time. For the past week, I have been trying to make more things rather than just buying them and so far I have been happy with the results.

These are some of the things I have made in the past week:

Wheat bread
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Whole-Wheat-Honey-Bread/Detail.aspx
This was good, but got hard very quickly. I am still trying to find a better recipe.

White bread
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Light-Oat-Bread/Detail.aspx
This one is really good.

Wheat hamburger buns
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Honey-Wheat-Sandwich-Rolls/Detail.aspx
I used all wheat flour and added some vidal wheat gluten. I would use something that is at least 4 inch to form the buns or they will be a little small.

Apple sauce
http://www.pickyourown.org/applesauce.htm
Apples were dirt cheap last week so I bought 12 lbs and made 4 quarts of apple sauce. It came out to be around $1 cheaper than store bought apple sauce.

Baby food
Home-made baby food is so easy to make that I don't think I would ever buy jars of food. Using a steam basket, I place the vegetable/fruit and steam for 10-15 mins. Then I just place in the blender and make the puree. If it needs to be thinned downed, then I add the water from the pan. I pour the puree into ice cube trays and freeze. Once they are frozen, I pop them out and store them into a freezer bag/container. Then when my daughter wants to eat, I just take out 2-3 cubes and defrost in the microwave. I currently have around 12 different fruits and vegetable in the freezer ready to be eaten.

Snack Packs
I used to buy the pre-made snack bags of chips, crackers, etc for my husband's lunch because it was just easier, but I knew that it cost more so last week I decided to make my own. It is actually very easy if I do it all at one time. I divided the chips, etc into serving sizes and then put them in those fold over lunch bags which are cheaper than the Ziploc snack bags. Then to keep them fresh I put everything into a Tupperware.

To make bread products, I would recommended getting a bread machine. It makes things much easier. I was able to get mine for free, but I always see them at thrift stores for $10-$20. I think it would pay for itself after a few weeks depending on how often you use it. The average loaf of wheat bread cost $3-$5 and it only cost me around .80 - $1 for an all wheat loaf. I will make the dough in the machine and then bake in the oven, but when I am short on time I just put everything in the machine and 2 hours later I have a loaf of bread.

This week I am going to try making some tortillas, waffles/pancakes mix, English muffins, granola, and hot chocolate mix. I will let you know if I find any good recipes. Let me know what home-made items you make to save some money.

Here is the next installment of EML's money saving tips.

Buying Used Items

We all have to buy things at some point, but you do not always have to buy new. Gently used items do the job just as well and they will cost you much less than something new. Here are three places you should check out the next time you need (want) something.

First on the list are thrift stores. I recently discovered a thrift store that is operated by a local church and I went to check it out since I was looking for some clothes for Edith. Well, after spending 30 mins there I left with a bag full.

This is what I bought:
Bead maze toy - $1 (I had seen the same thing at Target for $15.)
2 paperback kid books - .53 (New around $10.)
BabyGap shorts - .50 (New $16.50)
BabyGap pants - .50 (New $24.50)
Old Navy sweater - $1 (New $19.50)
Adias track pants - $1 (New $20)
2 Carter t-shirts - $1 (New $24 for both)
Lilly Pulitzer sweater - $1 (On Lilly Pulitzer's website, the sweater sells for $58.)

I only spent $6.86. If I had bought these items new, it would have run me up $187.50 plus tax. All the clothes were in excellent shape and one of the sweaters actually still had the tags. This is my usual experience with thrift stores. Sometimes you will have to hunt for the bargains, but they are always there and well worth the time to find them. Most thrift stores sell clothes, household items, sport equipment, furniture, books, paintings and electronics.

The second place to check-out is www.craigslist.com. You usually will not find items as cheap as things at a thrift store, but it is a great place to find some thing in particular. Most of the baby items I have bought (stroller, car seat, pack-n-play, etc) have been Craig's list buys and they were purchased for at least 50% off the retail price.

They also sell larger items such as houses, cars, rooms for rent, farm equipment, pretty much anything you may need. I actually purchased my car from someone on Craig's List. I paid $1300 for it and have put around $500 worth of work into it, but after 3 years, it still has not cost me more than $2000.

Craig's List is also a great place to sell items around your house that you may no longer need. I have personally sold around a couple hundred dollars in the last few months.

www.freecycle.org is a place where you can find things people are trying to get rid
and will give to you for free. You are also able to post things that you are looking for and if someone has the item, they will give it to you. I was looking for a new car seat cover for a car seat I picked up on Craig's List and someone gave me theirs for free. I have picked up canning jars, clothes for Edith, books, and some kitchen items that people were looking to give away.

My sis EML is a natural money saver. (I, on the other hand, am not.) So when she offered to send me weekly money saving tips I could post on the blog, I was all for it! Here is the introductory installment.

Tightwad Tips by EML

I have always thought of myself as a somewhat frugal person, but recently have been wondering if I am as frugal as I could be. After discovering one of my friends having a food/household budget of around $100 less than ours, I figured there must be a lot more that I could be doing. I decided then and there to go on a journey of deeper frugality. I thought I would share with you the things that I found.

Every Tuesday, I plan to share what money saving tips I have discovered for the week, recipes to make things from scratch, things that I have done around the house to save money, blogs that share the idea of saving money and other odds and ends that will help you save a few dollars.

My first tip: Learn to say no to your kids and yourself. Not buying anything at all is the greatest money saver!

(Bobbi's note: Ya know, I keep trying to tell Brian I saved money by buying something on sale and he insists that I'd save even more money if I never bought it in the first place. Hmm...maybe he's got something there...)