[crochet2]

I want to be more frugal this year too.

I have stopped going to the market every week. I am trying for once every three weeks. I do need to either start making all my bread or buying freezing it. I am not a fan of that, but if it will help. I put all purchases on my cc which earns points.

I am also going to Sam's club every so often, but with cash. What I get is things like extra quality meats, ham steaks, frozen breaded fish fllets that I like, spices that I use a lot of in bulk (black pepper is one),

I cook from scratch mostly, the already prepared foods have too much salt for me.

I want to do more vegetable gardening this year too. I had 4 squash plants, some cucumber plants that did not produce, and some tomato plants that did well. I am thinking about how to have more room for the plants this year. I froze some of the squash with peppers that were given to me and sweet onions that were cheap, so I have plenty this winter.

As far as clothing goes, I think I don't need anything for this summer at all, and my winter clothes are great.

Since I changed jobs last year and went to half of what I had been making, I have had to look at every purchase and really decide if I need it or not. My only major purchase was replacing my kitchen windows. And they were really bad. I am putting money every week into a savings account, and money every week into an envelope for lawncare this coming year.

My major expenses are insurance (home and auto), taxes, and my mortgage. I don't know if I will be getting a refund on my taxes this year, but if so, it will go directly to paying extra mortgage payments. Making sure you have a roof over your head is the most important thing. So if I can scrounge up an extra payment or two, I will be really happy.

Well ladies, better go for now.

Take care all!! Norma