I love this week's edition of WFMW. FRUGAL TIPS!For me ... we had to make an adjustment to our spending some 4 years ago when I started working part-time after having Austin and then FULL TIME when Ethan's medical issues starting demanding more of my time. It didn't help that son #3 was also on his way.
We needed to learn to live on one income and then any additional income would be GRAVY!
Basically I do the following consistently!
1) Plan my shopping trips
2)Make a list for each store
3)Shop w/ coupons
4)Write letters/emails to the manufacturers and tell them about their products (occasionally I will get coupons in their response letters, but this is NOT what I am looking for when I write the letters. I want products I like to stick around.)
5)Purchase based on price, size, and coupon, not the lowest price. I would rather have 4 bottles of small mustard for 10 cents each that 1 big bottle for $1.50 .. ya know?
For the "regular" stores that double and triple coupons, I try to only purchase those items that are on sale so I can get them FREE or not for very much at all. This shopping measure allows me to then purchase what we need that I do not have a coupon for and usually the brand of what I want. (I use store brand AND brand names.)
For everyday stuff ....
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I JUST started doing my own hair! I watched a BUNCH of YouTube videos, yes, YouTube and did my hair this weekend and love, love, love it. I saved 65.00!!!
I cut my sons hair (tods)
I cook 5 to 6 times per week and make enough for lunch the next day.
I buy 2 whole rotisserie chickens from Sam's twice a month for meals and chicken salad. $4.97 each!
I AM a thifter! I have ONE main thrift store and I love it. I signed up for their newsletters and even get coupons. My boys are set for the summer, (shirts, shorts, swim trunks, basketball shorts and jerseys) excluding shoes and I spent $50.00 for all three of them. 12 1/2, 4 yrs and 2 1/2 years old.
There is so, so much more ... but I have to get outta here. Hop on over to WeareTHATfamily and see where else you can save!
5 comments:
I buy the rotiseree chickens from Walmart and they are such a good deal! You get so much out of them!
:)
Great tips!
Sounds like you've got a pretty good system going!
You may already do this, but once you've removed the meat from the rotisserie chicken, if you put the carcass in a pot and cover with water along with maybe a carrot and an onion, simmer for several hours, you have the best chicken stock! Great for sauces or soup or gravy! It freezes great too.
Great tips. I usually roast the chickens myself, but I'm going to have to compare prices with the rotiserie chickens next time I'm out.
I am a thrifter as well and do many of the same things you have listed - but I don't know if I'm brave enough to highlight my own hair yet. Glad to hear that yours turned out well!
I also have discovered the Sam's chickens. I pick one up on the days that I just do not feel like cooking anything at all. It's cheaper and tastier than giving in to that temptation to just go out.
I also keep a "grid" of meals for the week, but don't assign them to a day, then I can just look at what is available and decide what to make. I try to put a combination of quick meals, favorites, and treats on there - then I buy just the ingredients for those recipes.
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