Ever since my husband & I decided that I would become a Stay-At-Home-Mom, I've been looking for more ways to save money to close that gap between what I used to bring home in my paycheck and our current budget. And it's starting to pay off.
A few things I've done to save money are:
- Cut cable tv subscription from oodles of channels to the lowest subscription (just enough to get a signal - we can't get any local channels without cable due to our location)
- Cut out mag subscriptions. Most magazines have online editions now. Our local library allows you to borrow magazines and has a great selection. Friends of mine have subscriptions and will typically let me borrow their mags for a few days. In that time, I scan the recipes or patterns I like (or write them down) and put them on my hard drive for personal use. I DO NOT COPY them for anyone.
- I borrow books from the library for the entire family instead of buying them. I find ALOT of new recipes from oodles of books I check out.
- I borrow music from the library instead of buying it.
- I do all of my shopping on the same day. I utilize every available store and sale and only buy what is on sale + what I have coupons for. It has to both be on sale AND I must have a coupon before I buy it. That way, I save the maximum.
- I am not a brand-snob. I buy what is on sale. Giving up brand preferences really eliminates alot of expense.
- I plan my meals around what is on sale at the grocery store that week. If it's not on sale, it doesn't go into the cart.
- I shop at stores that double my coupons. Between the store sale + my doubled coupon, I get alot of things free or nearly free.
- I have made home economics my job. I research all of the money saving sites and blogs every day to obtain the best sale and freebie info.
- I buy second hand, from discount stores, or I make it. My kids do not need Ralph Lauren polos and Tommy Hilfiger shorts. This is just stupid. They can look nice in gently used brand name clothes or in discount retailers clothes. I also participate in clothes swaps in my area - the moms put out their unwanted clothes on a table and swap with each other. I get rid of the kids' clothes that don't fit anymore and pick up some gently used clothes that do fit.
- I cook almost every meal, 3 times a day. This is such a cost savings and my kids are eating healthy foods. -Not prepackaged meals. REAL, made from scratch, meals. Plus I always have leftovers which carry us for lunches the next day or another meal.
- Every one in the family is allowed one splurge. Something once a month that they enjoy. For me, it's yarn. For DS, it's a book. For DH, it's car-related or tool-related. For DD, it's a Barbie. This way we don't feel deprived, but limit our splurge spending.
- I regularly use The Grocery Game, Coupon Mom, Money Saving Mom, Penny Pinching Diva, Consumer Queen, Coupon Saving Family, We Use Coupons, Smart Source, Red Plum, and Coupons.com. You need to check in with these sites/blogs anywhere from daily to weekly. And it needs to be consistent. If you are persistent and consistent, you WILL save money.
Are you doing something to pinch your pennies? Have a tip you would like to share with us? PLEASE leave a comment below.
19 comments:
I've started using coupons too, but wow you did much better than I ever have! I will admit we buy a lot of our groceries at Sam's... it's often cheaper there than the regular stores.
I hate shopping! I am not a coupon clipper but I always buy stuff on sale and in bulk. Online bill paying saves money on postage and time.
WOW thanks for the coupons sites. I never have luck finding good ones. You rocked the savings.
Saving money is excellent. Kudo's to couponing successfully. I've yet to master the art.
I wish I were better about using coupons. I cut them out...I just always forget to take them : (
I keep a coupon box with all of the coupons I clip over a month - usually every two weeks I clip & toss. I keep a preprinted "master grocery list" that lists all the "usual items" and also reminds my husband or myself that certain items are cheaper at another store (if we don't need it that day).
LOVE your blog and this post is great!! Following you over from sits and will be checking back again!!
Please stop by my blog, I have two awards for you, thank you.
Great tips on being resourceful! Buying second hand is good for the earth too!
A buckeye visiting from the Sitsahood. Do you have a Super Wal Mart near you? I will occationally shop Giant eagle to get the fuel perks, but have found that WalMart offers consistently lower prices even without sales. Plus they will match any advertised (if you have it in print) price, add your coupons and you would be amazed. They have organic produce at prices lower than Giant Eagle's regular prices.
Wow, you work really hard to save money - I'm very impressed!
That's a cool list on how to save $. I use coupons too & always sign up for freebies.
I use grocerygame too!!! It's saved a lot and now....well if there is ever a breakdown in civilization, I'm the one to come to for toothpaste!!! LOL!
Thanks for the other links on being frugal. I'll have to check it out.
LizzB
onenerveleft.blogspot.com
Hi! Found you via SITS and I'm enjoying discovering your blog this morning. I just have to say, I HEART my public library. I hardly ever buy books anymore at all. It keeps the clutter down for the kiddie series books like Magic Tree House too - you know, the ones they'll read once then will sit on a shelf. I find I read a lot more now too because if something looks even slightly interesting, I give it a try because I can check it out for free vs investing $10+ to buy it.
Oh, and my new fun Sunday activity, which I try to do at least a few Sundays a month: make one of my favorite teas in my thermos (my library allows drinks) and hit the library to read a big stack o' magazines. I love it! They're all there, and I can read uninterrupted. So much fun, and more relaxing than reading while standing in line at the grocery store!
Thanks for all of these great tips! It sounds so easy too.
wow that is a lot of savings! I must search for Jewel-Osco coupons more often. We also do a lot of shopping at Aldi...saves us so much money, same things there cheaper than with coupons at the regualr grocery.
T.
I love all your tips! I have been a SAHM for well over ten years and know what it's like to stretch a dollar to reach where two used to. Wonderful post!
Hello to a fellow SITSa! You do pretty much everything that we do! We are just a family of three so saving money is a little easier on us right now, but some of the basics still cost us all the same.
We don't have cable at all and just rely on "bunny ears" and that new digital box for television. We spent about $20 for a cord and a little adapter in order to connect our computer to our television. Instead of going to the movies or buying new DVD's (unless it's a special movie or occasion), we go to www.watch-movies-links.net. The newer films are usually not the greatest quality but given a little time you can find a better version, and we now watch movies on our TV through our computer. Compared to the cost of going out or constantly buying movies, the cost of the items to hook the two electronics together is nothing! And with enough smiles and sweet talk, the nice electronic boys at the store might just tell you how to do it without a fee! *lol*
These are great ideas!! Your blog continues to be awesome :)
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