Frugal Friday time again

Seems like it's been a while since I did one of these, what with my bloggy break and all.

Anyway, I wanted to tell you that I made those cleaning wipes--and WOW! Easy (though sawing through the paper towels is no fun without an electric knife), inexpensive, and they work great. Plus, I LOVE the smell of PineSol. Weird, but true. 

(I love bleach and Lemon Pledge too. It just smells CLEAN!)

I only had one container the right size around, so the ones I made are in the girls' bathroom--and they are using them. I'm headed to Wal-Mart on my way home from school later this morning to get two more--one for my bathroom, and one for the downstairs bathroom.

Oh, and I didn't drill a hole in the top of the lid. I figure that we can just take the lid off and on. That will keep them from getting dried out.

This is the post with all the recipe links.

Okay, so groceries.

I've continued to keep track of the money we spend on groceries so I can get an accurate idea of how to budget. A couple of you have asked for menu plans. Here's the thing, I cook something different every week and it's just what sounds good, what uses what I have on hand. If you want some great ideas, visit my friend Meredith here. 

Though I really want to be one of those coupon-y moms who saves more than she spends, it just doesn't work for me. I just don't buy lots of stuff that there are coupons for. 

I don't buy much prepared or packaged food, but I buy lots of produce and always the store or generic brand of whatever else I need. Mostly, I cook from scratch which seems to be the best way to save money on groceries. Too often it seems like the coupon brands are still more than the store brand--even with the coupon discount.

That said, I do pay attention to what's on sale and even try to look at the grocery fliers in the mailbox when I remember. I always price compare. But I guess it comes down to the fact that I don't want to spend the time going from store to store and finding coupons for stuff I actually need.

Are you a coupon mom? Does it work for you? Any hints for anyone wanting to be one? Leave a link or a tip in the comments.

Been thinking some about time too. My basement (unfinished) is a pit--I'd planned to clean and organize before I started seminary, but then I hurt my back and couldn't move, let alone move furniture and bend over to pick up stuff.

I don't seem to have a whole day I can devote to organizing and cleaning down there, and I'm thinking it might be time to do a "ten-second tidy" like Lunette the clown from that PBS show "The Big Comfy Couch."

Well, maybe not 10-seconds, but perhaps 30-minutes. Setting the timer for a short period of time is a good way to get stuff done. Maybe tackling it in 15- or 30-minute chunks of time is the way to go.

Okay, this is way too long. And I've been pushing it to the limit to get ready for school this week. I hate feeling rushed and being late, so I need to go ahead and get in the shower and get going. Plus, my girlies are up and they need some hugs!

Comments

[brenda]

Yeah, I can't coupon either. I always find the store brands are cheaper and the savings I get is not very exciting. I have the desire to save money, but zero desire to do the work that couponing involves. I just buy the cheap kind of whatever it is.

[Sara]

No I'm not much of a coupon mom. Occasionally I'll find one or two, but it has to be something we use often. Store brands are the way to go. I do find that a gorcery list is the best way for me to save money. If I have my list ready before and a dinner plan for the week I don't spend as much.
I DO love those Michaels coupons though. :)40% is sooo worth it at Michaels!

[Melissa @ Breath of Life]

I do both...couponing & store brands. My hubby recently commented that he's so proud of me for doing it that way...taking the time to really think about our $$. It can be work, but I've tried to make it into a game...to see just how much I can get for how little. I never buy something just because I have a coupon for it, though. It has to be something I'll use. I also menu plan around the sales.

[Lina]

I only grocery shop for two these days (unless our grown kids are staying with us)and we can get what we want--but I remember the challenges of feeding a family of five. I like to buy what looks good and what is on special...but I'm picky about quality, especially with produce and meats/fish/chicken. When I was growing up, my best friend's mom worked for a social services agency--she visited people in their homes and taught them how to be thrifty at the grocery store and how to cook on a budget. Let me tell you, that woman could COOK. Everything she made was just so delicious. I remember tacos she made with ground beef and grated potatoes (to make the meat stretch further). She made salsa from canned tomatoes too...incredibly wonderful. I think of her often when I get into my snobby foodie mode ~smile~. Back in the day when I was planning menus for my family, newspapers and magazines had tons of coupons, and our local grocery stores DOUBLED coupons! I really got into that and was able to save money.

[Kimberly]

I have said the same thing about coupons...I don't use the pre-packaged stuff. Now using coupons for few months there are stuff I use...granola bars, cereal, make-up, bread, sour cream, batteries etc.) But my husband is w/o a job and I have to watch spending. I just started using last week, the Grocery Game (www.grocerygame.com). It tells you when to play your coupon for stockpiling. This past week a did a huge grocery trip (6 loaves of bread, 5 dozen eggs, meat, fish, 7 boxes cereal, produce, 4 gallons of milk plus all the other stuff) for $150 dollars. My minivan was stuffed. I went to Kroger and only bought the things the grocery game said were on rockbottom price w/ double/triple coupon and then I went to Wal-mart for everything else. At Wal-mart I do price comparison for (meat/produce/tolietries). So I get the other grocery stores leader items all at one place. My Wal-mart is not really picky about price comparison. I have also figured out which clerks enjoy seeing the customer save money and are very agreeable. So I will wait in a longer line to check-out with them. When I have a person behind me the is starting to look frustrated w/ my checkout taking longer...I apologize for the time and tell them it saves me so much money...they are usually smiling at the end of the conversation. The grocery game and price comparison at Wal-mart really saved me a lot of money. It did take more prep time. I am sure as I learn the system that the time will be reduced. No more spur of the moment grocery shopping. Both grocery stores are very close to my house so it is not too much time doing both. Once I learn where things are at Kroger it will be faster. I plan on only buying the "rockbottom" stuff there. The Grocery Game does cost $5 a month but I think I saved about $150 dollars this past week...so it well pays for it self. You can try it out for a month for only $1. My friend has done it was has cut her grocery bill to $300 a month for a family of five. I am not there yet. Sorry for going on and on...I am just excited.

[stephanie]

I am the same way about couponing. I prefer to save my grocery money by once-a-month (for the most part) shopping and buying some things in bulk. The stress of going to lots of stores with 3 littles outweighs the few dollars I could save. :)

I'm going to try the homemade cleaning wipes. I had some before and loved them and got out of the habit!

[Amy McLean]

I made the creme brule french toast for a brunch for small group. It was yummy and we will have it at Easter.

[Meredith]

You know I'm a coupon girl. Honestly, I've been doing it for so long that I don't give it a second thought. Today I made my 2-week shopping trip and I saved $43 in coupons...mostly meat, dairy, and toiletries. I really do think it's worth it. But I'm also one of those people who shops at four different grocery stores (which only works because they're all within 4 miles of my house.)

No great tips other than to only clip coupons for what you KNOW you'll use. I don't clip coupons for sugary cereal or snacks b/c I don't buy things like that.

Ready for your blizzard? It looks like you guy might get hit harder than us for a change.

[Gina]

My husband and I were DINKS (double income no kids) for 10 years and really didn't have a limit on spending at the grocery store. My oldest just turned 3 and I've been a SAHM since his birth and so it was quite an adjustment. Our grocery bills were around $800+ a month (that's just for just 4 of us...though we do entertain at least once a week sometimes 2 since my husband is an associate pastor). Anyway, about 6 months ago I started The Grocery Game and have seen huge savings!! My grocery bills are never over $500, which includes all toiletries and paper products NOT just groceries (I'm talking shampoo/aluminum foil/soap/tampons)!
I make practically every thing from scratch (nothing pre-packaged), 7 days a week because money is tight (well, also, it just tastes better and is healthier) and was very hestitant to pay to use the Grocery Game because of it. Once I tried it and realized all that I could save on ordinary items, I was sold. My first shopping trip using the GG, I spent $225 but saved $250! Whoah! Now, I never spend that much anymore, rarely over $100 for a weekly shopping trip. Last week I spent $43 and saved $67, so now that I have a good stockpile, I don't have to spend as much. It uses the weekly store ads and combines it with coupons so you save much more than the face value of the coupon. You don't spend hours cutting coupons each week....you print the list and then only cut the coupons you need (maybe 20 for me). There are tips on how to organize your weekly coupons etc. I also found a great grocery store (Sprouts) that sells produce super cheap so I go there once a week or every other week and spend $20 on a ton of produce. I am a happy camper and my husband is thrilled at the savings.

[Kimberly]

Heh, Blog Ladies if you do decide to try the Grocery Game...I would love to be considered the person who referred you...then I save on my membership for a month...every penny or dollar counts. Let Joanne know and she will forward your email on to me and will send you my email. Happy Grocery shopping...I am heading out today and will let you know how much I saved.