I use to be the same way, it was easy to blame hubby for not making enough, and then I read somewhere that he went out and worked to support our family, and how dare she disrespect that by wasting as much as one penny. WOW, talk about a God-Breeze...........
I have heard, but, not actually done, to take a certain amount of money(cash, ya know, the green stuff) with you when you go shopping. Leave the check-book,credit cards, and debit cards at home. That way, you have no choice but to spend only what you have. Take your little calculator, and tally up as you go. When you reach your limit, you are done shoppping...
I say I have never done this, but, actually I have, when we did not have a checking account, credit cards or debit cards. I hated it. But, it worked, and now we do have those things, because we started spending wiser. CORRECTION***** *I* started spending wiser. It was kinda humiliating at the checkout register to have to put stuff back, pick thru your bags, and say, 'Take this off, no keep that..etc'
One way that I have helped my family is that I go shopping for groceries even when I dont need to. Sounds strange, yes, but, if you have a full freezer and full pantry, then, on the weeks that you really dont need anything, check the above posts about coupons and store circular sale items, and go spend X amount of money. Not much, just enough. I have found that this helps the next week, when the paycheck may be lean, or there is another pressing bill that must be paid, and I dont think I can go to the grocery store.
Last, but, not least, is that I used to go thru the whole grocery store and put every thing in the basket that I wanted. Then, before checking out, I would get another basket, and item by item, go thru it and decide if I really needed it, or just wanted it, or, could we really afford it if I really only wanted it. I would end up putting a few things back, probably should have put more back, but, it helped.
Now, I look in my basket when I am done, before checking out, and say to myself...Is there processed foood in here, something that I can make at home, which will be cheaper, healthier, and costs less.. SOmetimes I find stuff that can be taken out, that I can make at home, wont be so unhealthy, and will fill my time so I am not out shopping more!!
Check out the frugal threads on this site, they are great.
Be blessed,
Beckie