Favorite budget ideas

[LifeIsGood]

Hi!

During these challenging economic times, I would love to know: What are your favorite frugal ideas? It doesn't have to be just related to food - anything that you do to cut costs and save money. I thought it would be nice to get a list together to help people.

Thanks!

[3KillerBs]

This thread has already accumulated a lot of food ideas, http://www.recipezaar.com/bb/viewtopic.zsp?t=282705 but putting it under a more general title is probably a good thought.

And this thread has a lot too: http://www.recipezaar.com/bb/viewtopic.zsp?t=280859

Along with my food and heat savings that I mentioned there, I'm sewing my clothes from fabrics bought cheaply at thrift stores.

And we're raising the "Well, that's tough and you're just going to have to deal with it," quotient on many things.

DH isn't getting the online game subscription we'd have normally bought. I'm seeing if my DD's sneakers that she outgrew before they were worn out will fit my feet even though I think they're ugly, DD is wearing her brother's outgrown winter jacket, we're patching holes in "around the house" jeans, etc.

[LifeIsGood]

Oh..thanks!! I'm reading through some of the threads now..thanks for the links.

I just thought if everyone who is good at saving $ could list 1 to 3 of their favorite ideas or tips - it would be a good resource!

[3KillerBs]

LifeIsGood wrote:
Oh..thanks!! I'm reading through some of the threads now..thanks for the links.

I just thought if everyone who is good at saving $ could list 1 to 3 of their favorite ideas or tips - it would be a good resource!

Definitely a good idea there.

We have a lot of people here who are good at saving money.

[Tish]

I'm one of those crazy people that just loves to find good tips. Here are some threads that are fun to look through:
General Money Saving Ideas Using OAMC
How do you make your meat stretch?
Coupons, Sales, Tips and more!
Stretch your Food Budget with Homemade Mixes
Everyday ways to save money

[Cinisajoy]

2 words
Thrift Stores

[Gabby LSW]

I get most of our HBA and cleaning items free (or close to it) after rebate at Walgreens, CVS and RiteAid. If it's free, I buy it and if we can't use it, it goes to DD or to the homeless shelter or other community program that helps those in need.

I cook from scratch (or almost from scratch) when I can. We limit our eating out and I always take home a doggie bag. This week I'm eating chicken quesadillas from our lunch with YSD yesterday. DH is gone on business, the two quesadillas we brought home will feed me most of the days he will be gone.

I buy almost everything we eat on sale or at Aldis. I almost cried a couple weeks back when our convenience store had boneless skinless chicken breasts for 1.19/lb since I had bought 16 lbs 2 weeks earlier at 1.49/lb and the freezer was stuffed.

Right now, we're eating out of the freezer so I can defrost it. That will save me a lot of money for December.

Gabby

[LifeIsGood]

Thank you, all! I'm busy reading, writing, saving ideas. Keep them coming!

[LifeIsGood]

Tish wrote:
I'm one of those crazy people that just loves to find good tips. Here are some threads that are fun to look through:
General Money Saving Ideas Using OAMC
How do you make your meat stretch?
Coupons, Sales, Tips and more!
Stretch your Food Budget with Homemade Mixes
Everyday ways to save money

Thanks for all of these links!

[Tish]

LifeIsGood wrote:

Tish wrote:
I'm one of those crazy people that just loves to find good tips. Here are some threads that are fun to look through:
General Money Saving Ideas Using OAMC
How do you make your meat stretch?
Coupons, Sales, Tips and more!
Stretch your Food Budget with Homemade Mixes
Everyday ways to save money

Thanks for all of these links!

You are welcome!

[Chef1MOM~Connie]

Some things we have done in the past and will do again due to this recession:

I use crockpots. This allows for tougher cuts of meat that will tenderize!
Cook more than 1 meal at a time in the oven.
Lower temp in house and wear sweaters and extra blankets if needed fo rbed. (although this is rare unless 30 below or more in winter) Dropping yout furnace temp by a few degrees will save substantial monies.
Cover windows and door bottoms. I made tubes of old sweatshirts and socks and put in from to door and windows to keep down drafts.

Unplug all appliances and cell phone chargers possible as well as computer monitors to keep costs down. (can add up to over 35.00 per year)
Turn off lights when not in use.
Open windoews in daytime to collect heat from sunshine as well as pick up spirits!
Make a spagetti night! Just pasta and sauce and breads or salad. No meat.
My pet peeve is the computer being left on when no one is around. I know it is a pain to open and close but it does save $ but more tan that the computer itself.

I will be checking into thi thread as this years recession and my medical leave from work (no disability or compensation)will stretch us quite a bit.

[Mami J]

I'm not used to cooking in crock pots, but I'm guessing that they use plenty of electricity?
On the other hand, I love my pressure cooker. You can cook even the toughest cut of meat and it will come out really tender. I mostly cook beef or pork that can be made into several meals (just like a roast), and for cooking beans- they are ready in under an hour.

[Cinisajoy]

Crockpots use very little electricity. The 3 1/2 qt ones use no more than 100W light bulb. (Mind you my crockpots are several years old) and the big ones use 275W total.
If you have an electric stove you use more electricity cooking on it than in a crockpot.
Though yes that is a common misconception.
For a comparison: a microwave uses between 4 and 10 times the electricity that a crockpot does.
I'm in an older house. I had to learn what small appliances can work together and which ones will trip a breaker.

[Snoopy Chef]

my post was deleted.

[Cinisajoy]

Chef,
Was it deleted or did it not go through? I had a post fail to go through last night.