Pinching Pennies and Saving Money for Families

Start an Emergency Savings Account Now

2011-01-14T14:13:00.000-08:00

I just read this great article/review from Dave Ramsey's debt relief program. The first step is to get out of debt is to create an emergency savings account. He suggests $1000 to start. This is a great buffer for car, pet, even small medical emergencies that come up.

Some of us will take longer than others to get this fund set up but the goal is to do it as fast as possible and move on to the next step. There are many ways to acquire the money... selling stuff, extra job, skipping some fun stuff and replacing it with other inexpensive fun stuff.

This emergency savings account sets you up to relax a bit when something extra comes up or the mini van needs new tires, etc... It allows you to move forward and feel at ease. YOu can check out the review that I found by CLICKING HERE to see the next steps in Dave Ramsey's program.

to Coupon or not the Coupon... that is the question

2011-01-12T10:22:00.000-08:00

With all the talk about saving money-perhaps that is your New Years Resolution- I stumbled upon a tv show called Extreme Couponing... Wow was I inspired to go out and get $600 worth of groceries for $32. So I started to research a few "coupon gurus" on the web and found that in order to do this kind of extreme coupon shopping you have the have your $h!% together. If you are naturally super organized this will be easy for you. Here is a site that I found that will help you get going on couponing one step at a time. http://www.mycouponteacher.com/ there are others out there that will teach you the basics.

I am one of those not so organized chickies. I will start small and see where it takes me while observing my SIL and Mom while they take the journey into couponing. If anything comes of this for me or them I will share it.

Go ahead, clip a few, double a few and see what you can get for next to nothing.. if it is not fun move on... if it is a blast you go girl or boy :o)

Shopping Sales

2009-02-20T11:51:00.000-08:00

So I used to, just a few short days ago, be a one stop shopper. I don't have time to go from store to store just to get a better deal.

That all changed when I watched a show on TLC called Kids by the Dozen. The Mom of 11 kids at home said she did all her food shopping for about $150 per week. Wow, That is what I spend on food for a family of 5 and she is spending as much as me for a family of 13. How the hell is she doing that??? So here is how.

First they grow and can alot. Not my style and I am fine with that but she shops the sales. She has 3 freezers and she keeps them full of meat that she gets on sale. So I cracked open the paper this week and went thru the food ads and found chicken for 79 cents a pound, milk for 1.99 a gallon, roast for 78 cents a pound, jimmy dean sausage 2 for 1, ground beef 1.69 a pound, polish sausage for 99 cents a pound and I stocked up. I now have meat for the next two weeks plus and am so looking forward to next weeks ads. I still went to my main store, walmart for most of my stuff but went to 2 other stores and it is already making a huge difference in my food budget. Oh and all of the stores that I chose to shop at are all within a mile and a half of eachother so it was quick.

Are you using Craigslist?

2009-01-04T07:40:00.000-08:00

I love Craigslist and you can find all sorts of things there. Recently I have found a horse for free. Yeah thats right a horse.

The great thing is you can save money on advertising here too. So if you are selling a car, dress, or chicken you can list it for free with up to 4 pictures. I personally am a garage saling, Goodwill junky and love to resell stuff that I find. Recently I found a large bird cage in perfect condition and it was too bulky to try to ship and sell on eBay so I put it on craigslist. Bought it for $5 and sold it for $20 and they came and got it, can't beat that!

So just a heads up next time you have something to sell or need something check out craigslist first. Happy 2009 I wish you Abundance!

Starting an Exchange

2008-12-02T09:35:00.000-08:00

So your daughter needs a new pair of winter boots and you are strapped with Christmas coming. Why not call around to friends and family and start an exchange. This can also be done on local message boards or online groups. I go to yahoo groups and Cafe mom and found local groups and they are doing it. You just list what you need or what you have to give and others respond to it.

Freecycle.com is another great way to find and give things. I encourage you to do a little research and find some great free stuff and in turn to give back and give some gently used items to others.

Create a Great Life!!

Black Friday!!!

2008-11-27T07:57:00.000-08:00

SO I hear that this is a great way to save money but I just can't bring myself to get out there and get crazy with all those people. I have noticed that there are some great deals online. I just got an email from Old Navy offering some great sales on their web sites. So this is where I will be on Black Friday, in front of this computer getting some great deals in my jammies.

I encourage you to check out your favorite stores online and see what they offer tomorrow.

No I know that for some of you this in the event of the year and that is great. You go girl or guy :o). Just remember to enjoy the process, shopping should be fun.

Buying in Bulk a Few Secrets

2008-11-14T12:51:00.000-08:00

I am not big on buying in bulk because I feel that sometimes things just don't get used and then it is a waste so here are some tips.

Buying in bulk a few secrets #1
Buy large bags of trail mix and like items and as soon as you get it home put it in snack bags so there are servings instead of a one time sit down with the bag. This can be done with several items that you can buy in bulk.

Buying in bulk a few secrets #2
Buy meat in bulk, have the butcher at the store cut it up for you and then bring it home and use a food saver to vacuum pack it all in meal size portions.

Buying in bulk a few secrets #3
Di you know that you can grate and freeze cheese. When you do this it is great for cooking and baking but not so great just thawed and used. So keep that in mind when deciding what you are going to need for the tacos verses the lasagna.

happy bulk shopping!

Shopping at Thrift Stores

2008-11-05T05:41:00.000-08:00

I love Thrift stores and I found a little secret at my local Good Will about a year ago. I guess I knew about it all along I just never bothered to check it out. It is the As Is Store, at my store it is back by the Donation Center and I love it.

Just a little word of warning here... You have to love the hunt and not mind digging through other peoles junk to enter this area.

Basically it is all the stuff that either didn't sell in the main store and they have pulled to make room for other stuff or it was stained, broken, unable to put up for sale in the main store.

And believe me when I say there is alot of junk. But amidst that junk there are some true treasures. I actually discovered because I was trying to find a new place to buy items to list on Ebay. They sell by the pound with clothing so I am get a box full of clothes for $5 to $10. I have bought things that I paid 50 cents for and sold on ebay for $50+. That is what I am talking about!!! I cloth my kids in American Eagle, Abercrombie, Old navy, etc... and it is sll treasures that I find there. I found a Pride and Prejudice book form 1941 for 50 cents and sold it for $38 on Ebay.

SO if you love and I do mean love the hunt this is the place for you. I have never left empty handed and I go several times a week.

Words of Advice...
Take a purse that can easily be put over your shoulder.
Bring cash, ours takes cash or checks no cards here.
When digging through clothes your arms will get tired, mine are built up now so take it slow :o)
Bring a good attitude and you will find the best stuff!!!
Have Fun
Oh and Please wash your hands after, there is some scary stuff in there. I carry hand sanitizer.

Shopping Alternatively

2008-10-29T07:30:00.000-07:00

I found a great place to shop and save money. We have a Cash and Carry store here. I discovered it when I was doing some shopping on the run for our 4H concession stand to replenish some food that we ran out of in the middle of the day. They sent me to this Cash and Carry. I had heard about it but never shopped there assuming it was just for business owners. I was even a bit nervous thinking that they would ask me for proof of what I was buying these huge cans of chili and nacho cheese, but no they even told me that as long as I had a debit card, credit card or cash I could shop there any ol' time I want. WOW! I have been back every week since!!

I buy chips for my family, you can get 50 bags of lunch size chips for $11.99, that lasts, my family of 5, 2 weeks sometimes. I get 40 pre formed burgers for about $20 which is great for big get togethers or several meals. My kids buy candy in bulk and resell it for a profit to their friends. there are some great bargains in there and I am discovering new ones all the time.

just be careful in stores like this because I have found a few things that are not great deals. Produce in these stores are usually not a great deal since it is sold in large quantities and would go bad before you could use it. All the meat items seem to be great deals. Most come portioned out so they are really convenient too.

So check out your local Cash and Carry type store and bring home some great deals!!

Have a great day!!! Check out my published article!!
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1104747/how_to_plan_meals_and_shop_on_a_budget.html?cat=22

Coupons...

2008-10-23T15:31:00.000-07:00

I jsut was on Ebay and did you know that people sell coupons on there? You can get them for clothes, diapers, formula, restaraunts.... the list goes on.

I jsut wanted to share this with you. Now go save some money and time!!!

It is time to Christmas Shop!

2008-10-23T15:24:00.000-07:00

What already, we haven't even trick or treated yet! Well folks if you want to save money by not blowing your wad, so to speak, all in December it is time to start.

If you do weekly shopping like I do it is time to start adding a few extras to the cart each week. What a great time to get those stocking stuffers out of the way. What about movies that your loved ones might want or books. If you buy just a few items per week and build up a reserve of presents you are on your way to getting things done and being able to put a little more thought into each item.

I do this for Birthdays, Easter, school supplies, school clothes. You get the idea, just keep spreading it out and it will all be done or at least close to it by the time that special day comes along.

Happy Shopping!!!

Meal planning and shopping to save Money $$$

2008-10-23T15:14:00.000-07:00

One of the things that you can do to save money while grocery shopping is to make a list of what you are going to have for dinner for the next week and then shop off of that list. You then ad the lunch and breakfast items along with your other needs. I shop once per week for a family of 5 and do it for about 150 per week for everything, sometimes over and sometimes under.

If you start to do this weekly or bi weekly it will help your spending come down. I go on Friday because that is when we get paid and shop for Friday night thru Thursday night of the following week.

I do shop for bargains but I don't bother with coupons, I just choose not to but if you like them go for it.

Happy Shopping!