Fabulous Financials

30 comments:

1. BK, 6 February 2008, 9:14
   

   Coupons are your FRIEND.. I save at least $50 each grocery bill with coupons!!! The best thing about them.. I can use them at BJ’s too so when I do my bulk shopping they help me save.. It’s not so bad once you start.. :) cut your coupons.. view your sale paper before you go to the store and take out the coupons you are going to use.. THIS helps with sticking to your list.. :)

    
2. nofearingthemoney, 6 February 2008, 9:27
   

   Aawww, it’s gonna be ok…I was wondering about your food budget as you hinted at it in a recent post.

   Yes, food prices have gone up, (milk is about to be on par with crude in a minute:), but one way to combat it, if you are not already, is to try the store brand versions of some foods. I see quite a few name brand items on your list. This will up the cost considerably…but, if it is what you like and you are unwilling to give it up/substitute, then coupons are your best bet. You can still be fabulous and clip coupons…for real.

    
3. S23, 6 February 2008, 10:35
   

   I have been struggling with getting my grocery budget under control as well. Somethings I have done is look at the sales papers to see who has the most of what I usually buy and go there. I make a list and stick with it. I’ve managed to keep our grocery budget at $100 every other week and it’s two of us as well. But hey, I do eat leftovers. Do you ever pick up the meats that are marked down? Those are VERY inexpensive in comparison to the regular price.

    
4. Single Ma, 6 February 2008, 10:54
   

   @ BK – If coupons are my friend, we’re about to get VERY acquainted. LOL Where do you find most of your coupons?

   @ nofear – Most of my shopping is usually generic. The only time I buy name brand is if the sales price is cheaper than the generic price. I have to be honest though. When it comes to certain condiments, cheese, and personal toiletry items – I’m loyal to my name brand. :-)

   @ S23 – $100 every OTHER week? Wow! I guess the only difference between our families is you have a 5 year old and I have a teenager. You’d be amazed at how much a teen can eat. BG is a petite size 5/6, but she eats like a garbage disposal. LOL And yes, I buy marked down meats that are near expiration. Especially if I plan to cook it immediately. Other than that, it depends on what it is.

    
5. amaranta, 6 February 2008, 10:57
   

   where are the vegetables???

    
6. Single Ma, 6 February 2008, 10:59
   

   Didn’t need to buy any this week, already had plenty at home. Okra, corn, brocolli, and green beans are making appearances on the menu for the week.

    
7. Becky, 6 February 2008, 11:05
   

   I’m with you on wishing this stuff could stay under $100. I’ve started clipping coupons, too! Haven’t done it in years, but realizing why not? Oh and I make Rachael Ray’s Chicken Sausage Gumbo at least once a month and it last for days. Now Rach can do it in 30 minutes, but it usually takes me an hour!

    
8. Single Ma, 6 February 2008, 11:08
   

   Rachel Ray has us all believing she can whip up a whole Thanksgiving dinner in 30 minutes. LOL!

    
9. Morethanmom, 6 February 2008, 11:14
   

   Oh yes, coupons are your friend. Especially if you are brand loyal.
   I mentioned this before, but are you near a CVS? Walgreen’s and Rite-Aid do it too, but my money saver is CVS Pharmacy. If so, match up a sale price + a coupon and you will often get items close to free, or free except for sales tax. This week I got free Fruit Garnier Condition ($3.99 ecb plus $1 off coupon so I made some change to buy it) free deoderant, free Palmolive, and with some extra bucks I had left, I got a bunch of tooth brushes, as they disappear in this house.
   Have you seen HotCouponWorld? They ask not to be linked to, but they are a great resource, and for weeks ahead planning can’t be beat.
   I get my coupons in the Sunday newspapers( three here)- I check out HCW above to see what’s coming out, and although I don’t do it, I know some people buy multiples of the newspaper if there are really great deals.
   If you get a good stockpile going (when your staples go on sale, buy enough to last until the next sale), you can definately cut that bill in half without sacrificing quality.

    
10. DivineMsN, 6 February 2008, 11:44
    

    If you have the space buy things in multiples when they go on sale. And use coupons and store sales to save even more. I try not to buy anything without a coupon so when I can get stuff on sale/cheap I stock up. Ditto on the CVS deals. I have a family of four so I keep staples around as much as possible.

     
11. Melissa, 6 February 2008, 11:52
    

    I’ve been clipping coupons for some time and my friends and families laughed at me. I carry a small book with my coupons sorted out and never make a purchase without consulting my book. Did I say they laughed? Yes, past tense. As each one has come to a store with me and they watch me in action with rain checks, sale items and coupons and reduce the total bill between $25-$50 per trip, they became believers. On Sunday evenings I re visit my local stores to see if there are any papers left over. I then take the coupons out and now have extra. I compare the sale circulars because there is always one that out sales the others. I then plan my trip with a list of items and coupons. I also revisit mid week and pick up the rain checks for items they’ve sold out of. After a while you can start to forecast sale prices and times and plan/buy accordingly.

    BTW, your blog is inspiring on many levels. Keep it up.

     
12. nofearingthemoney, 6 February 2008, 11:56
    

    We all have “our” brands…I am NOT about to purchase a store brand of certain personal items, although my DH had the nerve to suggest it, (that was a moment:-).

    Then it is probably the “teenager and friends” issue. One relative of mine once said he was happy to send his son away to college because it was cheaper than feeding him at home. The man was serious…

     
13. Single Ma, 6 February 2008, 12:33
    

    @ Morethanmom – I’m going to explore this CVS and Extra Care Bucks phenomenon I’ve been reading about on the innanets. Checking out HCW is now on my things to do for tonight. Thanks!

    @ Divine – Small apartment (1000 sq ft), minimal storage (mostly used with overflow from 2000 sq ft TH), so I’m not much of a “bulk” shopper anymore.

    @ Melissa – Sounds like you make A LOT of trips to the store. Unfortunately, I don’t have the time for that. Not so sure if I care to do it either. LOL I wonder how much you spend in gas chasing after sales? Thanks for the blog compliment.

    @ nofear – Lawd, I can only imagine what happened during that “moment.” LOL I think your relative is telling the truth. Paying for college might be cheaper than keeping them at home. Ha! But I love all of BabyGirl’s friends. Feeding them occasionally is a price worth paying.

     
14. SavingDiva, 6 February 2008, 13:01
    

    A few things…you should start looking for coupons! [Uh, no kidding! LOL -SM] Since you’re buying name brand stuff–Stoffer’s, Liptons, etc.; coupons are a lot easier to find (try the company webpages). [Thanks for the suggestion. -SM]

    For gatorade, you might want to consider purchasing the mix and getting two cute waterbottles. The mix is just as good (and really convienent if you just put in the powder and add the water when you need it–so much lighter) and a LOT cheaper than buying a bunch of bottles. [Thanks, but I don't like reusable bottles. Too germy. -SM]

     
15. HC, 6 February 2008, 13:33
    

    I think there’s a Trader Joe’s within reasonable driving distance from your place. You might want to check out their inventory and see if you could get coupon prices without coupon clipping.

    I love TJ’s. The produce can be hit or miss, but for shelf-stable and frozen stuff, they are well-priced and tasty. And they have LOTS of cheese. Including Kerrygold Dubliner…mmm.

    There’s also the four “$5 off” Safeway coupons in the 2008 Entertainment Book. The books are selling for $20 now, so it would practically pay for itself.

    [Yep, there is a TJ's down the street. I've never been in there but I may have to check it out. Thanks! -SM]

     
16. Jess, 6 February 2008, 14:04
    

    Just a suggestion here. Check out http://www.couponmom.com. (Registration is free…no spamming.)
    At Coupon Mom, you have access to all this:
    Print Free Grocery Coupons
    New: The Coupon Mom Blog with new savings tips
    Save 75% on your local paper and get the best coupons
    Get Personalized Coupon & Deal Alerts for your items
    Use the Grocery Coupon Database ***this is actually pretty cool

    Ok, so it’s apparent you aren’t a fan of leftovers. But do you really see this:
    Brownbag Lunch for both of us:
    10 various Stouffers meals (5/$10)
    10 bottles of Gatorade (10/$10)

    [Yep, and what I see is lunch for $3/day for each person. A lot cheaper than the alternative - eating out. Baby steps. -SM]

    Right there is $30 that you could save. $30 x 4 weeks is $120/mo. [So you're suggesting eating NOTHING for lunch? I'm sure there would be some savings with another alternative, but obviously not the entire $120/mo -SM] I realize those things seem inexpensive if you look at them individually, but it’s really a lot. Is BG not a fan of leftovers either? [I'll show her your comment and let her respond to what she thinks about sandwiches. Quite hilarious. LOL -SM] Sandwiches or wraps or salads (a head of lettuce is extremely inexpensive). Soups, chili, pasta salads (can easily add meat to them), pita pocket sandwiches, homemade “lunchables” – crackers/cheese/lean meats/etc, bagel sandwiches, cobb salad, taco salad, fried rice w/ham and veggies, tuna salad, chicken salad, and BBQ chicken or pork. Just a few ideas.

    And you realize, right, that those frozen entrees have loads of sodium. Eek!

    One other thing I saw was that there are sliced chicken breasts on your list. Buying a whole chicken is sooooooooooooooooooo much cheaper. (See emphasis on soooooooooooooooo much cheaper!) [See MY emphasis on QUICK. LOL I don't have much time to prep, so with some things, the convenience is worth the price. -SM] I throw my chicken in the crockpot overnight with onion, celery and carrots and some water. I can use it for a million things after that. I throw it in the fridge before venturing off to work. Later, I can divide it up. The skin comes of easily after being cooked. I can use some for chicken and noodles, some for BBQ chicken, some for chicken pot pies, some for various casseroles that call for chicken. It’s lasts me forever. I can even freeze some and use it later in casseroles or whatever.

    Last I checked, I could buy 1 lb of chicken breasts for something in the range of $5.58 whereas I could get a whole chicken (or a whole chicken thats already cut up) for $2.18. A WHOLE chicken.

    Just something to think about. Good luck. Cutting grocery bills is always an adventure. [Great suggestions overall. I'll consider them. -SM]

     
17. Debt Hater, 6 February 2008, 15:19
    

    Food prices have gone up a whole lot.
    You could do what I did when I was trying to squeeze blood from a turnip on groceries — skip the meat. Yep, chili with no meat, just beans and stuff like bulghur wheat, veggie casseroles, meatless sandwiches (like tomato, pesto and mozzarella). It’s not as horrible as it sounds. A lot of “ethnic” dishes are amazing and have little or no meat in them, but are filling. You could drink more tap water and skip the juice, pop and Gatorade, or Baby Girl can just make more iced tea. At one point, I just didn’t drink anything with my meals. After a while, I didn’t WANT to drink anything with my meals. I got by on $30 -$40 a week on groceries and lost 20 pounds (but I was never hungry. I don’t play that).

     
18. Single Ma, 6 February 2008, 16:11
    

    Oh wow, DH. Umm, I think I have to draw the line somewhere. I’m a carnivore in every sense of the word. If I were poor and had to scrimp to make ends meet, I’d cut out meat without thinking twice. But I’m just trying to cut back on a few dollars. If there was no other way than what you suggested, I’d rather spending $500/mon. LOL

    re: drinking more water. We only drink Gatorade for lunch and primarily water/milk at home. BG is an athlete, so I prefer that she drinks Gatorade over juice or soda. My only other liquid vice is wine. As my drinking buddy, you already knew that though. :-P

    I tell you one thing, my readers are VERY resourceful. If times were hard, all of you would survive without skipping a beat. Ha!

     
19. Morethanmom, 6 February 2008, 17:12
    

    Not sure if this is what you had in mind, but ever look into a food co-op?
    Brand name foods at up to a 40% discount.
    Some of the better known ones are Share, Angelfood, ServeNewEngland.
    The packages are on the websites, and if there is one near you, can’t hurt to try it.
    I volunteer at one, and make my younger two help (I also get packages). They are not need based, are brand names and from local farmers (mine is, you may want to check where the produce comes from), and if your daughter needs some volunteer work to round out her college apps, most are for a few hours one Saturday a month.

    I’ve never heard of a food co-op. Do you have a link so I can read more about it? [-SM]

     
20. efrain, 6 February 2008, 17:41
    

    Manwich! Why? That’d be the 1st to go if I couldn’t find a coupon. lol

    Cut out Manwich and save a whole $1.09 out of a $130 grocery bill? Oh wow, what a wonderful idea! [-SM]

     
21. Baby Girl, 6 February 2008, 18:09
    

    I have been eating sandwiches all of my life and I’m sick of them! Turkey, ham, PB&J, and any sandwich you can name, my mom used to make me eat them. I’ve probably eaten 2,000 sandwiches in my lifetime. If I have to pack my lunch for school, I want to eat something that I like and I don’t want the same thing everyday. I try to work with my mom with saving money so she doesn’t pay for school lunch and I try to convince her to pack lunch too. So this is our way of packing lunch and saving money together.

     
22. Morethanmom, 6 February 2008, 18:16
    

    Not sure exactly where you are.

    http://www.sharecolorado.com/index.cfm?action=menus
    http://angelfoodministries.com/menu.asp?period=35&state=VA&lang=EN&submit=Submit

    http://www.servenewengland.org/foodcoop/packages/default.asp

    And if it’s not for you, you can always mention it to someone who may be able to use it. I know that when I first started a little over a year ago, many people turned their noses up at it. But as I started to give away what my children won’t eat (shrimp, cod, just about any type of fish product), I got quite a few converts :)

     
23. Dimples, 6 February 2008, 22:40
    

    I am blessed to have two great stores near me that I shop at. And I don’t even mess with coupons.

    Have you checked out your local farmers market?

    Things that works for me:

    1. I use ziplock bags to proportion out my food which makes them last longer.

    Example: If I buy a package of drumsticks, I clean and season the entire package and then I put 3 drumsticks (2 for me and 1 for the munchkin) into each bag and freeze them. I do this with majority of my food. That way when it time to cook I just pull out a bag and use whats in there. Before I tended cook more than we ate and the excess would wind up being thrown out. (Chicken that comes cleaned & measured out like that tend to be more expensive than the regular stuff)

    2. Freeze your leftovers.

    Leftovers last longer if you freeze them. And I reheat my leftovers using my oven, stove top, or toaster oven. I think microwaving leftovers removes some flavor out of them. Leaves them a lil bland.

    3. I love my crockpot.

    I resort to using my crockpot before I think about going shopping. Why? You’ll be amazed by the different dishes you can make using a crockpot. They usually don’t require that many ingredients and most of those are things lying around your pantry or fridge. Just throw in some veggies, meat (or no meat), broth, and your own spices and you got a banging stew. Sunday evening I looked in my fridge and swore to myself that I had no food and that I needed to go shopping soon. I had lil stuff here and there but nothing seemed to make a complete meal. So I did a search on google for crockpot recipes and I found a recipe for Chicken Stuffing. It called for 4 chicken breasts, stuffing, and 3 cans of cream of chicken soup. I altered the recipe a bit (I had ONE chicken breast, a can of mushroom soup, and the stuffing) and it came out deliciously. I have tested many a creation on my daughter. Try some on BabyGirl………. :-\ ……….ok maybe not.

    http://southernfood.about.com/library/crock/blcpidx.htm

    4. I cook some parts of my meals ahead of time on Sundays.

    I boil chicken breasts and make my homemade chicken salad. I bake the rest of the chicken breasts, bag ‘em, and freeze them. I sometimes make a batch of tuna salad. We bake cookies for the week. My daughter likes baked spaghetti so I will boil the pasta and make the sauce and freeze them. The list varies depending on what meals I am envisioning for the week. The whole process only takes about 1 to 2 hours. It serves as a great bonding time with my baby. She has her own chef outfit including the hat. :-)

    5. Drink more water and less everything else.

    We drink nothing but water. I invested in a filter. I use a 2L water bottle that I take to work. I just buy 4 gallons of water every two weeks (@ 59 cents a pop). My daughter actually prefers water over soda or juice. The only other drinks I buy is soy milk which last for about 2 weeks and orange juice on occasion. I definitely save in that area.

    Ok this comment is getting long. Hope some of it gives you ideas on a new strategy.

    You know this comment will be a featured post, right? LOL [-SM]

     
24. PKB, 6 February 2008, 22:53
    

    If you do not have the time to clip coupons, try http://www.thecouponclippers.com/. From their site:
    “HOW IT WORKS

    We are a full-service coupon clipping service, dedicated to the task of helping you to save money! You choose the coupons that we send you for a small handling fee. Order them and you’ll get the manufacturer coupons delivered to you in your mailbox. Start watching your savings rack up after you receive your first order in the mail. You get your choice of which values you want to arrive at your home. Take these grocery coupons to the store, redeem them on the products that you purchase regularly and watch your budget stretch. Welcome to the WORLD OF SAVINGS!”

     
25. efrain, 7 February 2008, 11:17
    

    I’m just not a manwich man. I’d opt for tuna instead of manwich.

     
26. Empress Juju, 7 February 2008, 12:09
    

    My Vegetarian Teenage sister moved in with me last month, and our grocery bills have gone from $90/week for just me to $60-90 per week for both of us, lunches included. I use http://www.savingdinner.com, and we have breakfast and dinner together at the table every day. Because we don’t eat many prepared foods, we don’t do a lot of couponing, except for toiletries and the occasional jar of spaghetti sauce or salsa which ends up free after the sale & coupon!

    I shop at Trader Joe’s almost exclusively, with an occasional extra run to Albertson’s or, less frequently, Whole Foods for the few ingredients I couldn’t find at TJ’s.

    Breakfast is generally chopped fruit, plain yogurt, and 1/4 cup of granola, french toast made with Ezekiel cinnamon-raisin bread with sliced bananas, or an egg muffin made with a poached egg, a slice of cheese, and a toasted english muffin, served with a piece of fruit.

    I don’t mind leftovers for lunch if they’re good… I often take whatever yummy thing we had for dinner, a salad, and a piece of fruit. The Teenager generally gets half a sandwich (veggie slices, cheese, & greens or the ever-popular PB& J), nuts & fruit for lunch, and every other week we get a bag of baked chips because she is, in fact, a Teenager. We buy a six-pack of sugar-free, caffeine free soda and each of us takes one three per week… the rest of the time we drink filtered tap water with lemon in our water bottles, and a couple of times per week, we make lattes at home. Oh, she also gets a different bottle of juice every week that she mixes with mineral water.

    We cook for real about twice a week, I make a different pot of soup every week, and on Mondays, dinners come from the Crock Pot. Tuesdays & Thursdays are my late nights, and the Teenager forages in the kitchen. One night a week, we order in, go out, or have frozen pizza and watch a movie. Because we’ve been inviting dinner guests on Wednesdays, occasionally, someone will offer to take us out to dinner to repay the hospitality. We don’t count on it, but it’s a nice treat when it happens!

    The meat-free thing sounds extreme to die-hard carnivores, but it’s actually been loads of fun, much cheaper, and I’ve dropped several extra pounds in the last month. I still eat meat when I go out, and I find myself getting a turkey sand at Subway every ten days or so… what I used to take for granted has become a real treat!

    Good luck on your grocery journey… it’s an important one!

     
27. moneymonk, 7 February 2008, 17:48
    

    Watch out -Coupons make people buy things they don’t need.

     

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