Times are so tough-what are some basic or creative ways you have saved or cut back?

[Anonymous]

I am trying to spend as little as possible each month and it's so frustrating. I looked at what I spent this month on groceries (not including eating out which we don't do often) and it was $675. That was just for my DH and I and one baby. I have no idea if that was alot to other people or not?-seemed high to me and I didn't think I was buying anything extravagent. The good thing is I am starting the month with a pretty stocked freezer and lots of basics that I needed like olive oil, etc that I don't have to get all the time.

Any ideas are helpful--even inexpensive meal ideas-thanks!

[Anonymous]

My family (myself, DH and 1yo) eats mostly vegetarian meals with some organic produce/milk, so our food budget is around $300 a month (restaurants also around $300). I go to the store with a list and stick to it. Beans are really cheap and you can do black bean soup, lentil soup, hummus, bean burritos with homemade salsa and guacamole. On busy nights, we make pizza with ready to bake crust. I buy meat on sale and pack all our lunches (sandwiches or leftovers). Breakfast is usually something with protein like eggs or peanut butter. I also bake muffins for the week with whatever berries are on sale.

[Anonymous]

Honestly I spend less on groceries when I shop at Whole Foods. Odd, but it is true. Some of their prices have come down with the competition of the supermarket chain organics. There also just isn't as much there to impulse buy!

I get coupons from restaurant.com and we also are mystery shoppers....also look in the Valpak that comes in the mail and the random coupon magazines. Sign up for the clubs restaurants offer. Buca di Beppo sends coupons and so does Melting Pot. Check your receipts when you leave stores so you can call a number and get a coupon on your next meal or purchase. Order in from places and get kids meals. You can't order them at the restaurant, but you can get them take out and they are often plenty for an adult.

[Anonymous]

There are other things that you can do, not having to do with groceries, that can save a lot of money. The major thing is to start UNPLUGGING appliances not in use. TVs, phone chargers (when the phone isn't even plugged into them), electric stoves. You can see a 50% reduction in your energy bill if you start putting everything on power strips and turning the strip off when the appliances and electrical items on that strip are not being used. And it involves absolutely no cutting back, just a change in habit.

Switching out light bulbs to the energy efficient ones also makes a big difference in how often you have to replace.

You should take a calculator with you on your grocery trips and calculate the cost per ounce of what you intend to buy. I agree coupons can help, but you may be spending more for a coupon'ed designer brand (or a designer brand on sale) than for a non-coupon'ed Giant or Safeway item.

Also, check to see what food items you seem to be throwing away because they have gone bad before you could eat them and start buying less of them. For me, vegetables would inevitably go to waste before we would go through them (mostly to do with not knowing what nights we would eat in). So now I buy more frozen vegetables, and a smaller quantity of the fresh that I do buy.

[Anonymous]

Raise the AC a few degrees.

Take steps to make shopping a less important part of your life (if it is one), which includes throwing out catalogues and even not looking at them. If you don't need an item, it really isn't a bargain - even at a sale price).

No impulse purchasing.

No drinks outside the house - water in restaurants, and carry a water bottle.

[Anonymous]

OP here-Thank you so much. I think although I was trying to be so careful this past month, I still wasn't totally going by lists. I do like to serve fresh salads before dinner so I have been good about buying only the tomatoes and lettuce we will need--but I have been buying salad bags and will now switch to lettuce heads when possible. I realize how much more you get for the money. I think since I was careful I do have tons of meals now for August so some of that money was spent on future dinners. I have been looking for coupons but don't always find them for what I buy. I have been planning out my weeks too like someone had suggested in another thread and that is definitely helping.

For the mystery shopper-how did you become that? I keep seeing things that seem like scams so I'd love to find out how to do it. Also-I do return foods that are bad (not that have expired but that something is wrong with-bread that got moldy on day 2 or whatever) I feel like that 3-4 dollars adds up.

[Anonymous]

PP-Thanks! I have actually been so good about that (I'm talking to the poster before my last posting who said raise the AC) I have been forcing myself to not get starbucks or any other drinks out (unless I'm out for hours and need to get an inexpensive mall drink when it was 100 degrees, etc) but I'm talking about the 4-5 dollar drinks I used to get without blinking and often got a scone with it or something else so I spent 9 dollars whenever I was in there-uggh! I eat at home for lunch and most dinners during the week. We eat out maybe once or twice a week but when we do I NEVER order anything expensive unless it's a special occasion and I keep coupons for the restaurants we like. I never buy clothes and when I did last month I returned them all (weren't the right fit and I figured what was the point) Maybe I spend too much on baby food. My son is 10 1/2 months and I have been slow to transition to table food for him. I get worried about choking but I need to get over that. The stage 3 jars are costly and although I normally give 1 jar split from morning to afternoon and add yogurt or cereal to make it last and to avoid too much sugar it still adds up. I literally get my nails done twice a month or less (and I keep doing this because my own nails are so painful when not covered with powder, etc and I get my hair colored once a month (I used to do this at home but it was so dark and so uneven and I used to get stains all over the floor, the towels and the shower curtain!) That is literally all I buy except for gas and I do not drive that much--groceries seem to be the main thing I need to watch. I never thought about unplugging everything-I do unplug our toaster but nothing else-
I have even been slowly selling stuff on ebay that I don't use or wear so that is some extra cash if even just a little bit towards gas. Another thing I did was get an iced tea maker and I stopped buying tons of drinks at the store and just make a fresh brewed pot every day-that has definitely cut down on my bill

[Anonymous]

I cook from scratch. And purchase my meat in bulk from local farms and buy all veggies at farmers markets.
Consolidate trips in the car
Turn A/C way up or even off during the day (I WFH and am just sitting, so I don't mind it a bit warm)
I keep cars for at least 10yrs
I have a mortgage I can afford and therefore live in a small and modest home.

I've always done these things being a frugal person. In reality I don't really feel that economic times are tough. For gas, I'm paying on average about $60 more per month and on groceries probably about $200 more per month. Its pretty easy to make up for an extra $260/mo, we were not living pay check to pay check before gas prices.

I don't understand all this talk about a disasterous ecomomy, going to Tyson's Corner on the weekend, you'd think it was Christmas. I think Americans might just be getting a wake up call for being big spenders and scant savers.

[Anonymous]

I could be wrong but I feel like you are chastising me a little bit? Good for you that you have been frugal all along. I'm glad you aren't struggling now. I'm not having trouble because I overspent. I have a baby and a lot less income coming in and we have not touched our savings and I have zero credit card debt.

[Anonymous]

This site is filled with a lot of people trying to offer good advice, and a couple of know-it-alls who feel the need to level anyone who doesn't do things/choose the things they do.

A little here and there will help. From my experience the most important thing to do is to start writing down things when you spend. Then if you have a budget, you will know when you are approaching the limits and you can put on the brakes.

[Anonymous]

Hasn't this topic been discussed to death in previous postings?

Also, I am a mystery shopper too (I think one of the PP is too). There are certain restrictions, of course, depending on which company you go with. For me, I have to eat at Red Robin on certain days and times (of my choice) and complete a very detailed report. You don't get paid like a paycheck, but merely reimbursed...into a paypal account. Sometimes I wonder if it is more of a hassle than it's worth since Fair Lakes is a little bit of a drive for me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I cook from scratch. And purchase my meat in bulk from local farms and buy all veggies at farmers markets.
Consolidate trips in the car
Turn A/C way up or even off during the day (I WFH and am just sitting, so I don't mind it a bit warm)
I keep cars for at least 10yrs
I have a mortgage I can afford and therefore live in a small and modest home.

I've always done these things being a frugal person. In reality I don't really feel that economic times are tough. For gas, I'm paying on average about $60 more per month and on groceries probably about $200 more per month. Its pretty easy to make up for an extra $260/mo, we were not living pay check to pay check before gas prices.

I don't understand all this talk about a disasterous ecomomy, going to Tyson's Corner on the weekend, you'd think it was Christmas. I think Americans might just be getting a wake up call for being big spenders and scant savers.

how proud you must be.

[Anonymous]

I hit the garage sales and consignment shops for kids clothes. It's amazing what you can find in the nicer areas (Bethesda, McLean, Potomac) at garage sales! Go to Craigs List to find them.

I am really limiting toys, getting rid of excess stuff (selling or just donating) and in general feeling more "free" with less stuff. I saw a great bumper sticker the other day: Less Stuff, More Fun-- trying to live up to that with my kids and husband.

I throw away catalogs and just went through the kids clothes to see what we really need vs. want for the school year. It was a good exercise for them and me.

Keeping my car around longer than I normally do (it still runs well, is reasonably good on gas, etc.) and looks fine.

I am looking at my bills carefully to see where we can cut back (cell features, cable, car insurance, etc.) --

I think twice about things I never did before: Blockbuster, starbucks, etc. it does really add up

I sometimes make a game of giving myself a spending goal for the week and work hard at sticking to it. It's amazing how wasteful I can be with food, etc. so trying to stretch things a bit further.

Scaling back on babysitting help. But keeping some for my sanity and my marriage!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I cook from scratch. And purchase my meat in bulk from local farms and buy all veggies at farmers markets.
Consolidate trips in the car
Turn A/C way up or even off during the day (I WFH and am just sitting, so I don't mind it a bit warm)
I keep cars for at least 10yrs
I have a mortgage I can afford and therefore live in a small and modest home.

I've always done these things being a frugal person. In reality I don't really feel that economic times are tough. For gas, I'm paying on average about $60 more per month and on groceries probably about $200 more per month. Its pretty easy to make up for an extra $260/mo, we were not living pay check to pay check before gas prices.

I don't understand all this talk about a disasterous ecomomy, going to Tyson's Corner on the weekend, you'd think it was Christmas. I think Americans might just be getting a wake up call for being big spenders and scant savers.

Humm. . .You noted that simply living costs you 260.00 MORE a month, and you are living frugally. How can you not understand how this is hitting some people hard, not understand "all this talk?" For those who don't choose to live pay check to pay check but have no choice, this is tough for them! I am sorry, but I feel your post is unncessarily judgemental. I would suggest you open your eyes a bit to those around you who AREN'T as wise and prudent as you feel you are.

[zumbamama]

We stopped using the drier and set up a clothesline inside and in the yard. It's more work, but feels better. We give kids points for remembering to turn off lights/tv/electronic equip. We bought a big backyard pool instead of spending $20 twice a week at the pubic pool. Didn't do summer camp, and had them stay with family instead.