Budget Friendly

Like everyone else we are feeling the 'pinch' when it comes to our pocketbooks.  Higher gas prices, higher grocery prices, and saving for bigger goals leaves us very little money to 'play' with.

Can I just confess that can be down right depressing?

I cruise the Internet for field trip ideas.  I hear about wonderful homeschooling classes that are offered.  There are private schools that offer classes for homeschoolers.  There is curriculum that I drool over. But it all comes at a price, and that price ain't cheap. 

There are so many opportunities that I have to say 'no' to because of money.  I hate that.  Some days I feel like my kids might be missing out...that maybe when they grow up they will regret not having had those opportunities.

This morning I had a short conversation with a friend, and she changed my view on the whole situation.  She stated that, by being frugal, her children are learning about choices and managing money.

Yeah!

Having to budget your money teaches your children responsibility.  It forces them to prioritize and determine how to make wise choices concerning how and where their money (OUR money) is spent.  And when they grow up, hopefully they will continue making wise money decisions and be financially stable, responsible adults.

It's not about looking at what you don't have...it's about being smart about what you DO have.  And appreciating what you have.

Those are the lessons I will gladly teach.

Frugal 101

Now that the US government is on the verge of financial ruin, let's discuss being frugal, shall we?

I was frugal back when frugal was called 'tightwad'.  Or 'cheapskate'.  And I married a man who was even a tighter wad than me.  You could practically hear the squeaking when our collective tightness got together.  But I digress...

There are some things I do on a regular basis that help our family save money.  Here are a few:

1.  Never use a credit card.  We don't even own one.  We do have a bank debit card for transactions online or booking hotel rooms.  And for those of you who may live under a rock, the bank debit cards withdraw funds directly from your checking account. There is no interest.  And all God's people said "Amen".

2.  Buy used whenever you can.  I frequent the local used bookstore for curriculum.  I shop at Goodwill frequently for clothes.  (Get over yourself-once you buy brand new clothes and put them on they are USED too.  Although I will admit I don't buy anything I can't wash in hot water when I get it home.)

3.  Use a clothesline to dry laundry.  Yes, it's inconvenient.  But so is forgetting about the dried clothes in the dryer and pulling the whole wrinkled mess out of the dryer and then running it through AGAIN to get the wrinkles out.  Or forgetting to turn ON the dryer and having to wash the whole load again because they smell like a locker room.  I know I am not the only one who has done this!

4.  Plan menus and grocery shop from the menus.   This avoids unnecessary purchases-you only get what you need for those menus and that's it.  It also helps you remember why you bought those green peppers in the first place.  OH- and frozen chopped onions and bell peppers are awesome!  They cost a fraction of what fresh costs and when used in a soup or sauce, no one is the wiser.

5.  Cook at home.  You get healthier meals and it is SO MUCH CHEAPER.  Plus you save on gas driving to restaurants.  And it's a great opportunity to include your kids in the cooking process.

6.  Did you know you can set up your mortgage to pay one extra payment a month that goes directly to the principle of the loan? You can.

What about you?  What are some of your money saving tips? I'd love to hear them!

I Love Me Some Goodwill

I love me some Goodwill.  Well-I love any bargain but today it is about the Goodwill.

Thrift stores are my Mecca.  I love to wander around and 'dig for treasures'.  I hadn't been to a Goodwill in forever until a friend invited me to go with her a few weeks ago.  (Thanks Jen!) I was re-hooked.

 Last week I made a trip to the Goodwill in my area.  I got 4 skirts (one of which was an Eddie Bauer), a Liz Claiborne summer sweater, 4 blouses, a Gap button down shirt for my son and a cute sundress for my daughter for 40 dollars.

I wore the Liz Claiborne and one of the skirts to church on Sunday.  Within 15 minutes I had two very sincere complements on my cute outfit! I was tickled, to say the least.

The quality speaks for itself-if it has survived a stint with another person with no tears, holes, ripped seams, etc., then it must be of good quality.

I can't wait to see what I find next week!

Coupons= Happy Frugal Woman

I have a few friends who are avid couponers.  They have it down to a science.  And for years I thought-what's the point?  I never see coupons for things I normally buy anyway, and when I do I usually find the store brand is cheaper.

Apparently I was naive.

*I* thought if you tried to use more than one coupon for the same thing the grocery store police would slap my wrists at the register.  I didn't know you could go online to the specific stores you shop at and download digital coupons on to your stores loyalty card.  *And* use a paper coupon with the digital ones.

Yesterday I got online and downloaded some digitial coupons.  I clipped some paper coupons.  I perused the weekly ad online to find if any of those items were on sale.  And off we went.

Here are my great deals:

Charmin 12 Double Rolls: Regular price-$ 8.25.  I paid-$.99.  Woot!

Bounty paper towel, 8 rolls: Regular price-$9.00.  I paid-$2.99.

Crest toothpaste- Regular price-$2.75.  I paid-$.50. Woot!

Downy softner, 64 loads- Didn't catch the regular price, but the sale price was $4.99.  I paid-$2.99

I confess-I went through the self check out because I was embarrassed to be using both digital and paper coupons on the same items.  I was afraid I would be called out at the register....but I wasn't!

Coupons make a frugal momma verrrry happy!