What Did You Do Frugal Today??

[mom2-4]

Originally posted by barbszy
We almost never water our lawn. Watering makes it grow. Then you have to MOW it!

The funny thing is, we don't become members of the "Brown Lawn Club" any faster than our neighbors who DO water! I don't think Chemlawn is doing them any favors....we leave our lawn to its own devices, just mowing it regularly, and it looks better than theirs does.

I so agree with you. DH, and I get a kick out of watching the neighbors, spending hours spreading weed killer. (for weeds you can't see, except the dandelion, which no matter what seem to thrive. But, I couldn't say our lawn looks better, but, it sure don't look any worse!!!
Also, I know what you mean by resisting the tempetation to order out. I had a very hard time with that this past week with teh temps getting so high so early in the year.

Jora, tupperware? I use empty containers from stuff I buy. (i.e., whipped topping, margarine, yogurt, etc. etc.) Then when they get ruined, it doesn't matter! I do have tupperware, that was purchased in my prefrugal days, and stuff that parents, are getting rid of.

Joesbaby, congrats to Jerron for his team winning.

[barbszy]

Karen, I have been dealing OK with the cooking in hot weather thing. I got a couple of roaster ovens during the year (different sizes) and I've been trying them out with our favorite oven recipes. These roaster ovens don't heat up the house like the gas stove does! And I can even put it outside on the porch if I want to, and cook there.

[LJsmom]

I really like those glad or ziploc containers that are cheaper and work the same. The one thing from Tupperware I cannot live without is the Fridgesmart series. They are blue with white covers. Keep my veggies and fruits fresh for so long. Canyou believe grapes fresh for 2-3 weeks !!! I have a big one that holds a head of lettuce or head of anything. My stuff doesn't rot hardly anymore so to me that justifys the cost.

Frugal today was not going anywhere and cleaning out my closet instead. Thats where I hide things when company comes over-Dh calls it my filing cabinet.
Found a couple things I'd been looking forever for too, so it was a good day.

[redcardinalbird]

Yesterday went to Meijers as they had triple coupons. First I did my Mom's shopping while she wathced my kids as she had my nieces and they wanted to play. I believe her original bill was 120 something and it came down to 60 something. Then I came home and got my own coupons plus some that she did not want that I needed and I went shopping after the kids and DH was in bed (ours is open 24 hours). It was nice as it was not that crowded, they were restocking, though some of the things were still gone. I spent about 230 and got it down to 120. I did buy other things that had no coupons for. I also went back for the super Sat. sale for a couple things I had forgotten and the three things that were on special today. My toothpaste was free. My Hillshire sausage was .73 each as today was bog2 and I had a coupon! And again I reduced my bill by almost half.

DH was unfrugal as he decided he wanted a hamburger so he took the kids out to McD and it's playland to run off steam and so I could get some housework done (his idea). Oh well, I did enjoy the time to myself. He then took them to a bookstore and ended up buying them a book too. I will be working at a book warehouse next week and will be paid in books so they did not really need another book. Oh well at least that was better than a toy.

He also turns our Air up and I freeze, most of the time. I set the thermastat but notice that he goes and does a temp setting at lower. Mom-2-4, you can wash the unit air cond. coils off to help it run better.

[VickiLynn]

Yesterday I got serious about couponing. I went to a couple of coupon websites and printed coupons for items I actually use.
I have to go to town tomorrow, anyway. So I'll stop at the store and pick up just those items. I'm not adept at incorporating coupons into my regular shopping trips, yet.

[OSI]

Redcardinal-

sounds like you did really wonderful at Meijers! Ours hasn't run any coupon specials for over a year. I went in Friday night w/o dh and bought just what I went in for... they had Meijer brand pop on sale for $1.33 a 12 pack limit 6 so I stocked up and put it all downstairs in our antique refrigerator.. can you believe that old pink frig. from the 60's still works great!? The only reason we got a new one is the freezer on the old one is tiny and had to be defrosted all the time since we open and shut the refrigerator door so often... I haven't had to defrost it in a couple of years now since it only gets opened about once or twice a week.

LoriMae-

On chicken salad it is so easy. I cook in the microwave with these tupperware thingy's? They are like a steamer basket. Anyways I put 2 half chicken breast in there, cook for about 6-8 minutes, take out and put in the food processor with the chopper blade. Once it's chopped, I add a couple tablespoons of mayonaise (to taste) you can also use miracle whip, add about 1 tbs. pickle relish and that's it. If I have alot of time, sometimes I chop up celery sticks into small chunks and add... dill seeds add a nice taste as well. Then I just put in the frig. for later... it is so yummy! And of course, if you are really watching the calories switch the mayo/miracle whip to low fat.

LJsmom-

We cheat too when company comes and use laundry baskets that we stick in the extra bedroom and shut the door.

Barbzy-

We use a oven roaster too mostly at Christmas and Thanksgiving for turkey or ham... I love my roaster. I would like to have one of the newer ones that have the seperate containers where you can cook 2 or 3 things at once but you can probably find disposable ones at the store that would fit just as well.

Well I did go out shopping yesterday afternoon... went to one of the new Joann's superstores, it was nice and they did have alot of help available all through the store which was nice, especially being my first time in there. I bought more block letters for my purses and found some cute patches for a 50's purse style. It's a patch that looks like a vinyll (sp?) record that says RockNRoll and then got a music note in gold for the other side of the purse. Will probably do the lining in pink with a pink bandana for the belt loops. This is fun, just like having a empty canvas to paint on.

Well I'm off to hang up laundry... yesterday it rained all day so didn't get to hang anything. Today's supposed to be in the 70's although dh said it's humid out this morning.

Anna

[OSI]

Jora-

Just curious. You said you shop once a month... how many people do you feed and about how much do you spend? I sure wish I could only shop once a month.... I've been trying to work towards that goal for awhile now.

Anna

[EMMJEAN]

Good morning all. Yesterday was frugal for us. We took the kids to the pond were they were having a Get Hooked on Fishing not Drugs fishing day. They had so much fun. They got a free t-shirt and a mini tackle box. And they had free hotdogs and chips and soda for everyone. So lunch was free. They Fish andf Game Dept. stocked the pond the day before with 500 trout and 500 bass. Some were really a nice size. DD did sit down on a fishing hook. But it scared her more then anything. So she is okay.
We stopped at the store on the way home to buy some milk. It was 2.09 a gallon it is now 3.59. I was so shocked I almost didn't buy any.
Yard work and cleaning is all I will be doing today. Frugal but tiring.
Emmalee

[EMMJEAN]

Here is a picture of the tiger at our zoo.

[Jora]

Well, actually, I do a WalMart run once a month for our family of 4.

I stock up on things that are more expensive locally, and I buy some produce as well. But, I shop the local sales most weeks and buy some perishibles here.

Smith's, our local Kroger affiliate, has pretty good meat prices if you watch the sales, Manager's Specials, and reduced price bin. Today, I went early -- around 8:30, and hit a lot of reduced meats w/ close sell-by dates:

6 lbs pork chops for $5
7 lb spiral ham for $0.99/lb
corned beef for $0.99/lb

I bought 3 corned beefs and froze them immediately. Pork chops and sauerkraut tonight. Ham sandwiches this week.

They also had (regular sale), pot roasts for $1.79/lb and b/s chicken breasts for $1.79/lb. I bought some of those and fed the freezer w/ 2 pot roasts as well.

************************

In general, I go once a month to Wal Mart (stock up on Alfredo sauce, dry beans, frozen foods, etc.).

The whole family goes once a month (on a different weekend) to Sam's Club (stock up on cheese, produce, frozen foods, DH's breakfast bars, etc.)

Locally, milk, meats, and some other things are cheaper, so I buy them in town. For example, Sam's b/s chicken breasts are usually over $2/lb. I can get them here on sale for $1.79.

I have found that the SHARE (Self help and resource exchange) co-op is a good way to get fresh produce and frozen meats. They have a distribution day once a month too. (You can find more infor at www.sharecolorado.com ).

So, buy using Sam's, Wal Mart, and SHARE, I avoid some of the high local grocery costs.

Also, I have My Preciousssss -- a 20 cu ft freezer.