Take a Step Towards Saving Money

This is a short but sweet way we save money in our family step-by-step.  My husband, like most men, owns only a few pairs of shoes and he wears them for years before buying new ones. He has his favorite pairs and he literally wears them to the ground.  Recently, he wore a hole through the bottom of his most favorite pair.: they are broken in, they have conformed to his foot, the rest of the shoe was worn, but nothing a little polish couldn't fix.  Instead of buying a new pair of them, which costs around $150, he took them to our cobbler.  Yes, we have a cobbler. It only cost $3.00 to get them fixed!  He even put a couple of holes in my belt for free!
Check in your area for a quality cobbler shop.  There are a lot of things they can do:   stretching shoes, fixing handbags, reconditioning leather, polishing shoes, fixing zippers, repairing straps, making adjustments to leather jackets, and more.
Total savings for this year: $150

" Eat the Butt" and Save Money

While shopping, I compared bread costs to try come up with an educated guesstimate of the average price.  There was a wide range of prices depending upon type of bread, name brand, amount of "whole grains"or other specialized ingredients, and size.  Prices ranged from .99 cents for Stop and Shop brand basic white bread to $5.39 for Barowsky's Bread Organic Whole Grain 100% Whole Wheat. Obviously there is a huge difference between ingredients and quality, but, regardless of how much you spend on bread,  you can still create yearly savings for yourself by doing one simple thing: eat the butt!
I know, I know, most people, and children, have a huge problem with the end of the bread, or the butt, as most of us call it.  I used to think that crust was "poisonous" as a child, so that explains my fear until I finally saw that my friends who ate it were still living and breathing.
There are several uses for the butt.  I have children, who are not butt-eaters, who are unaware of my sly fox ways: they eat butt, but don't know it!  My tip is to turn the sandwiches outside in when you make them, meaning, put the butt on the INSIDE of the sandwich.  This works particularly well with grilled cheese sandwiches; however, I have also gotten away with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with my son.  He eats so fast that he doesn't even take a moment long enough to look at his food and figure it out.  I also make french toast out of them.  Once they are cooked, cut up, tossed about on the plate and covered in syrup, it is almost impossible to recognize the butt.
Of course, there is also the classic bread crumbs. Just ripped the slices into small pieces, zap in a food processor to blend until your desired consistency and then toast lightly in the oven.  Another classic use is croutons: cut your slices into small cubes, toss with olive oil, salt and pepper and any other spices you like.  Then toast the cubes in a 350 degree oven for about 10-15 minutes, stirring to toast all sides.  In both cases you can store in a tight container in a cool, dry place for several days.
OK, now for the yearly savings.  For this example, let's use the average cost of $3.25 for a loaf of bread.  We typically go through 2 loaves of bread per week.  In our bread, there are about 12 slices of bread, so in 6 weeks of eating the butts, instead of throwing them away, we would create an extra loaf of bread. We save, $13.00 per year.
I know that doesn't seem like a lot, but what can you buy for $13.00? More food, gas, a couple of shirts on sale for the kids from Target, TJ Maxx, Marshalls, or WalMart (some of my favorites--more on that later)?  In the savings game, every penny counts.

Cheers! Here's to Saving Big Bucks for Wine Drinkers

Cheers! Clink.  I love a crisp white on hot days with cold grapes and a hunk of Vermont cheddar.  In cooler months, it is a warming red with dinner, by itself, or with a piece of dark chocolate while sitting on the couch in front of the fire.  My husband and I together, on average, drink 3 bottles of wine per week, depending on the week and depending on if we have company or are throwing a party.  For this instance, let's just stick with 3 bottles per week, or 12 bottles a month.

My favorite red is from Chocolate Box.  The first time I sipped it, I thought I had gone to grape heaven in a beautifully woven hand-basket.  The thing is, Chocolate Box costs around $20 per bottle, but it is so yummy! Since moving closer to the coastline, my white of choice is a lovely bottle of Beach House: a perfect "house" wine for us since we have gone from concrete to sand.  It has a more palatable price of only $10 per bottle.

Just for example's sake, let's say that we drink white May-September and red October-April.  Our white cost per year would be $600.  Our red consumption would add up to $1,680. Total Yearly Wine Purchases:  $2,280.

The simple solution, of course, is to cut back on drinking or to find a wine you like that costs less.  Let's start with cutting back. We looked at our consumption and cut back to 2 bottles per week.  If we stuck with our current wines of choice--Total Cost: $1520. Yearly Savings: $760.

OR we could find less expensive wines to drink on a regular basis while not cutting back.  Our friends introduced us to Black Box Wines.  I can hear the collective inhale:  yes, wine in a box.  Remember those from college years?  BUT Black Box Wines are good; the flavor is satisfying for weekly consumption and we actually enjoy them on special occasions as well.   Each box costs around $20 (yes, I said $20) and contains the equivalent of 3 bottles of wine.  It comes in a sleek, black box that fits nicely in a corner--whether on the counter, in a pantry or in the refrigerator for the whites.  With the bag sealing, the flavor lasts for up to four weeks.  There are more pluses: its box doesn't break when you transport it, it is lighter than 3 bottles of regular wine and it is recyclable.  If it isn't available at your local liquor store, ask them to order it (Sometimes you get a discount for buying cases.  Just ask.) or try to find it on line.  A couple of things to remember: some states do not allow the receiving of liquor through the mail and the cost of shipping.  If you look long enough, you may be able to find it with free shipping.  Total Cost: $960.  Yearly Savings:  $1,320.

Now,  IF we cut back to two bottles a week and drink Black Box Wines, our Total Cost:  $620 with a Yearly Savings: $1,660!

Now that is something to cheers about!  Lift those glasses!

Fast Cheap Dinner for Four to Save: Tomato Soup

I'm always on the look out for how to save money on dinner Especially during this recession.  I need easy, inexpensive, fast dinners for my whirlwind family.  One night, I discovered that my pantry and fridge were pretty bare.  No time to go to the grocery store!  Plus, I didn't really want to. If you remember, I've sworn off take out and going out to dinner.

After a search, I found two cans of Hunts Diced Tomatoes with Garlic, Basil, and Oregano.  Hey, no chopping, sautéing and smelly garlic hands!  I tossed 2 cans of this in a medium pot along with a small can of regular Hunts Tomato Sauce and about 1/2-1 cup vegetable stock (any stock will do). I always keep a jar of bullion cubes for when I need a small amount of stock.  I used my immersion blender (or you can plop everything in your own regular blender) and zapped it until it was smooth.  I added more stock until it was the consistency I wanted and salt and peppered to taste.  Didn't really need a lot salt, so beware.  Heat it up.  Done!

You can serve this delicious, inexpensive, money saving soup alone with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese and/or with bread, grilled cheese, side salad or, our favorite way, with mozzarella quesadillas.

If you want to beef it up a bit, after blending, toss in a can of small white navy beans and any small pasta shells.  Just make sure you have enough stock for a soupy consistency.  At this point, I would use a can of stock instead of making a bunch of bullion.

Average Cost of Going Out:  $40
Average Cost of Basic Soup: $3.50 for 4 servings
Savings:  $36.50

Save Money While Cleaning Up

In my experience, the job title "Stay at Home Mom" is synonymous with "Cleaner of All Things Dirty."  One way I have learned to "earn" money by saving money is by cutting back on my paper towel usage.

It is easy to whip through several rolls per week without even thinking about it.  Is this mindless wiping?  In search of MY most favorite paper towel, I would have to say the quicker-picker-upper Bounty wins.  One does lasts through several wipes and you can rinse it out and use it again.  I couldn't believe how sturdy this paper towel was! You simply save money by not using as many.  I like to use the select your size type so you can use the smaller ones for little messes.

Which leads to an additional way to save money and "earn" yourself a little extra cash:  use cloth napkins and kitchen towels instead of paper towels. I try not to use paper towels unless it is obviously something that needs to go straight in the trash cash or will completely ruin my kitchen towels.

Let's start with the cloth napkins.  There are several ways to save on these if you don't already have some.  You can buy them from a consignment store or garage sale, buy them in bulk, or make your own all you crafty ladies.  If there are several people in your family, you can do something so everyone can tell them a part and use them more than once if possible.  I've tried several ways and all of them work great:  have a different colored napkin for each person, or a different napkin ring for each person, or have each person keep their napkin at their usual seat at the table, or have the names put on them. You can get white ones and have the family decorate their own with Sharpies!  At Linen Table Cloth, you can buy napkins in sets of twelve for as low as $6.69 for a dozen.  I've also purchased mine at Target  and Home Goods when they are on clearance.  BTW: I never iron mine!  What's the point?

Use your kitchen towels for everything else until you drive them into the ground! By far, my most favorite type of kitchen towel is the flour sack.  It is big, absorbent, sturdy, inexpensive, and I can bleach them.  I have about 2 dozen and use them to pick up spills, dry hands, as place mats for the kids, for washing and drying dishes, and cleaning off counter tops and out refrigerators---just about anything I would use a paper towel for.  I purchased mine on clearance at Target about two years ago and they are still ticking!  I also just found a set of a dozen for $16.99 at Amazon and they come with free shipping for a purchase of $25, so it is a good deal if you buy two sets.  (I have not tried this specific brand, but it has a  4 1/2 star rating).

Once you wade all through that, here is your total yearly savings on papers towels:
A bulk roll of 12 costs on average (without tax) $14, so each roll costs $1.17.  So, if I cut back and only use 1 roll per month instead of 10, I would save approximately $140.40 per year!

STOP! Save on Groceries and Gas

The single-me loved grocery shopping.  I had a very low budget, no more than $40 per week. Luckily, since I lived alone, I could eat simply--any where from beans and rice or peanut butter and crackers to eggs and toast with an apple or banana thrown in here and there.  I was a "starving" assistant for a non-profit, but I didn't mind it.  It was my first real job!

Grocery shopping at that time was relaxing: almost like window shopping.  The temperature was a cool relief from the Texas heat and the music was soft rock with a lean toward elevator music.  The isles were neatly laid out, colorful with so much to see as I slowly strolled down the isles! It was really exciting if there were free samples available! Heck, I could have a free meal on them.

When I got married and found out that my hippie husband was a traditionalist when it came to dinner.  He announced after I sat a sandwich in front of him, "I prefer a hot meal for dinner." And forget about breakfast for dinner:  no omelets, scrambled eggs, pancakes or biscuits and gravy (some of my favorite dinner faire).  Huh?  So I saved those for when he was out of town.

Now we have two kids ages 10 and 13.  Have you ever seen how much a 13 year old boy can eat? It makes me want to throw up just watching him!  So, now that I have to cut costs, save on groceries and push through this recession mess, I'm now cutting coupons, looking for deals and making organized lists before I go.  BTW:  I am NOT an Extreme Coupon mom.  Too much for me to organize and store!  More power to them!

Then I discovered Stop and Shop http://www.stopandshop.com/home.htm.  You can save on food and earm Gas Points for more savings when you purchase your gas at a Shell station:  http://www.stopandshop.com/savings/shell_program.htm?linkid=SN.  For every dollar you spend, you earn 100 points per dollar. Then, when you go to Shell Gas Station, you type in your Stop and Shop code or swipe your card and it automatically deducts the savings.  When I fill up, I average 30 cents per gallon  savings on about a 17 gallon purchased.  I fill up once a week, so on average per year, I save at least $245.

 

My best tip for using clipped coupons is to use them to make your grocery list.  Yes, a GROCERY LIST!  Don't leave home without it, a pen, and a fist full of coupons. You can get coupons out of your weekly mailer, but also on-line.  My favorites are http://www.coupons.com/  and http://www.redplum.com/. Write down exactly what you need, so you don't have to go back and forth with your coupons figuring out the rules for usage.  Also, grab the circular when you get there:  there are even more coupons!

Hopefully you are luckily enough to have a Stop and Shop in your state.  Not only do they double coupons under $1.00, they have their own in-store coupons AND coupons on line you and print yourself:  http://www.stopandshop.com/savings/coupons.htm?linkid=SN .  It doesn't stop there: they have coupons that spit out self checkout for the things that are in your cart to use on following trips.  Twice I found a coupon for $10 off your next order that someone forgot to grab, so I used it on my purchase. Leave no coupon un-turned!

If you don't have a Stop and Shop rewards card, go directly to customer service and sign up.https://www.stopandshop.com/account/login.htm?opco=SNS  It is free!  The program will automatically apply the coupons for you.  If you use their smartphone app called Scan It or their personal scanners, http://www.stopandshop.com/savings/coupons.htm?linkid=SN, it shows you personal coupons right on the screen.   It just might be fore something you need. 

The last time I went to Stop and Shop, I saved over $85 and earned 20 cents off my Shell Gasoline!  My average savings per trip is about $50 and I go about 3 times a month, so on average per year, I save at least $1,800!

It does take a little more time to do all these things, but think about how much you are "paying" yourself by saving!  Not bad for a days' work.

Total Savings:

Gas:  $245

Groceries: $1,800

Grand Total per Year: $2,045

Start Saving Now!

Once the din settled down in my head, I pulled out a piece of paper and pen.  I knew that I had to take a hard look at our monthly spending with Superman x-ray vision.  I remembered enough about fixed costs, variable costs and mixed costs from high school economics class to know that much of our spending was variable.  But I also knew that I also had control over mixed costs.

How about a little economics 101?  A fixed cost is one that you cannot change, like your mortgage or a car payment.  Examples of variable costs are ones you can change such as food, entertainment and clothing spending.  Mixed costs are just that---a cost that you have to pay but you have some control over:  electricity and water bills.  You have to pay those bills to keep the lights on and the water running but you can turn off the lights and fix leaks to help with the costs.  More on those later.

I started with our variable costs and discovered that there was a lot of mindless spending.  I didn't get all technical with it:  I just did a quick go through in my head and made an educational guesstimate of the monthly costs.  Here we go:

House Keeper (Stop whining and get out that elbow grease:  $400
Data Plans on iPads (WiFi--need I say more):  $50
Local Coffee Shop (Love their Chi and muffins...hubby loves the iced coffee):  $100
Buying Lunch (It is OK to eat at your desk, honey):  $125
Going Out (had to go!): $200
Clothing and Random Crap I Buy at Target (Although I LOVE Target, snif!):  $300
Exercise Classes (Yoga, Ballet--what's wrong with walking?):  $150
Guitar Lessons for my Son Who Doesn't Practice (He isn't going to be a Rock Star):  $100
Mani/Pedi, Eyebrows, Facial ( that is what a good washcloth, tweezers and pumice are for):  $150
Going to Movies (wait for Netfilx, On Demand or Pay Per View): $100

Total Monthly Mindless Spending:  $1,675 (What??)
Yearly Mindless Spending:  $20,100 (Really?!?!?!)

I know!  I had gotten so used to our lifestyle we'd had over the "fat years" that it never occurred to me how much we were spending on goods and services we didn't need.  Now, of course, there are some trade-offs.  I still have to buy clothes for my growing children, just not as many.  My husband has to each lunch, he just doesn't have to buy it at a restaurant.  I have to use cleaning products to clean my house.  However, those costs pale in comparison to what we were mindlessly spending.

I got rid of all of the above amenities immediately.  Over the months, I came up with other ways to cut cents and dollars that actually add up to a significant savings.  I will share those with you day by day as well as look at some of the above line item costs.

Until then, grab a pen, paper and calculator and make a list of your mindless spending.  It may be less than mine or even more.  Regardless, these are things you can either cut out all together or figure out a way to cut back the cost as much as comfortably possible.  For me, it wasn't a tough decision to make and not really painful to implement:  it is what I had to do.  Sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do.

A Penny Earned

I started this blog to share my day-to-day experience with trying to make it through this recession, and, heck, who doesn't want to save a few bucks?  I am a mother of two and have been able to stay home with them for many years. I have what I call a "challenging" family who is pretty high maintenance.  It is important to my husband and me that one of us is able to be with them when they are home before and after school.  That job usually falls to me for obvious reasons

Before we had financial issues, we lived in a beautiful home (that had a lot of upkeep) in a nice neighborhood in a nice town.  I volunteered at my children's school, went to church, ran a small business of my own on the side, did yoga, scrap-booking, decorated our house by myself (including all the window treatments) and, after 3:00, became chauffeur, referee, cook, maid, teacher, therapist, mother and wife.  I had help with housekeeping, pampered myself on occasion and my husband and I had date night.  We would have parties with our friends and for our kids.  We went on vacations and visited relatives.  We really didn't want for anything.

Just like everyone else, we were hit with "the crash," but we've managed to keep ourselves afloat by cutting back on a few extras, but mainly because of what happened on November 8, 2010 at 12:45 a.m.. :  we had a house fire (no lives were lost).  When we were able to sell it "as is," we decided to make a lifestyle change and moved into a house half its size with half the bills in a laid back beach community.  My husband and I even decided to do our own lawn care instead of hiring a landscaper.  Kind of a hard way to go about it, but it was one of those "meant-to-be" scenarios.   We still live in a beautiful house in a lovely neighborhood and town, but a few things have changed.

As a stay-at-home-mom, I was already used to saving a few bucks here and there, especially since the children grew so quickly!  How many pairs of pants can one boy go through in a year!? My husband is in the land development business, which has dropped but held steady enough until this year. We are now in the proverbial "rough patch."  He kept it from me until June, hoping he could work it out and to save me added stress. Once I found out, I cried, pulled up my boot straps and immediately went into action.

Since it was the beginning of summer and we have two children, I had a difficult decision to make: do I go back to work outside the home?  After thoroughly studying the job market in my area, I realized that at the time, I would be working to pay someone to be with my children:  I couldn't make enough income for it to make sense. My first order of business: cut back the" fat" from our spending.  After the initial list, I've discovered other ways to save.  Remember, Benjamin Franklin had it right: "A penny saved is a penny earned!"

I'll share tips on how I use my Sense for Savings and turn pennies into dollars over a course of a year.