One more quick link to an article about saving money. I liked this article very much. Mother Earth News is $10 a year, or available at most libraries. It is filled with articles on saving money or on ways to do things that can save you money. Here is a good one:
http://www.motherearthnews.com/Modern-Homesteading/2007-10-01/Live-on-Less.aspx
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Great Article on How to Save Money on Food
I just came across this great article entitled "45 Ways to Save Money on Food". I am posting the link. Maybe we can have a discussion about it!
http://www.homestead.org/NeilShelton/Groceries/45WaystoSaveMoneyonGroceries.htm
Number 36 caught my eye and I thought I would discuss it.
" 36. Watch the cash register It is estimated that up to $2.5 billion per year is made in scanning errors. That's a lot of money left on the check-out counter. Supermarkets often put items on sale at prices that don't always get to the register. Also, checkers can easily make mistakes when making entries. Check your receipt carefully."
I get many items free of charge because I carefully check over my receipt. I usually pull up past the registers and to the side and go over my receipt. Two weeks ago I found an error on my part. I grabbed the smaller box of cereal and it rang up as $4.99. I took it up to customer service and got a big box, plus $2.99 back. The week before I purchased a tub of hummus for $3.99 instead of the advertised price of $1.99. I received it free of charge when I brought it to customer service. Most stores have a policy that when an item has rung up at an incorrect price, the consumer gets the first item FREE and the second item half off or just the sale price.
Checking over my receipt those 2 weeks saved me $6.99. Well worth the total of 10 minutes that it took to fix the errors at customer service. Be sure to check over your receipts and start getting items free!
http://www.homestead.org/NeilShelton/Groceries/45WaystoSaveMoneyonGroceries.htm
Number 36 caught my eye and I thought I would discuss it.
" 36. Watch the cash register It is estimated that up to $2.5 billion per year is made in scanning errors. That's a lot of money left on the check-out counter. Supermarkets often put items on sale at prices that don't always get to the register. Also, checkers can easily make mistakes when making entries. Check your receipt carefully."
I get many items free of charge because I carefully check over my receipt. I usually pull up past the registers and to the side and go over my receipt. Two weeks ago I found an error on my part. I grabbed the smaller box of cereal and it rang up as $4.99. I took it up to customer service and got a big box, plus $2.99 back. The week before I purchased a tub of hummus for $3.99 instead of the advertised price of $1.99. I received it free of charge when I brought it to customer service. Most stores have a policy that when an item has rung up at an incorrect price, the consumer gets the first item FREE and the second item half off or just the sale price.
Checking over my receipt those 2 weeks saved me $6.99. Well worth the total of 10 minutes that it took to fix the errors at customer service. Be sure to check over your receipts and start getting items free!
It's Squash Season!
A few weeks ago our lovely, new neighbors gave me some zucchini and summer squash. I love squash and decided to experiment with it. I made a casserole that can be eaten as a main dish or as a side dish. I posted it on the about.com Frugal Living Forum. Someone made it and her family loved it. (Such a compliment!) Here is the recipe:
3 c. cooked rice
3-4 med./lg. squash
1/2 tsp. thyme
salt and pepper to taste
1 egg
1/3 c. milk
2 c. shredded cheese of your choice
Cut squash into chunks or thicker slices and saute with the thyme in oil or butter until tender. In a separate bowl, beat egg, milk, pepper and salt. Combine cheese, egg mixture, rice and squash. Can top with cheese and/or breadcrumbs. Back for 25 min. at 350 degrees. Can add a chopped onion in with the squash and saute.
I hope you all like it too.
3 c. cooked rice
3-4 med./lg. squash
1/2 tsp. thyme
salt and pepper to taste
1 egg
1/3 c. milk
2 c. shredded cheese of your choice
Cut squash into chunks or thicker slices and saute with the thyme in oil or butter until tender. In a separate bowl, beat egg, milk, pepper and salt. Combine cheese, egg mixture, rice and squash. Can top with cheese and/or breadcrumbs. Back for 25 min. at 350 degrees. Can add a chopped onion in with the squash and saute.
I hope you all like it too.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Vacationing and A New Dog
I have been out of town on vacation and on a business trip. I didn’t have much time to contribute to the blog. Now I am back and working on getting more articles written.
On Saturday evening, we were befriended by a puppy. Long story short, my husband, who has been adamantly opposed to getting a dog, fell in love with our new addition, Bella. Bella is 7 months old, or so, and is part mastiff (yikes!). She is an unruly and spunky 45 lbs. She will put on 10 lbs in the next month, the vet told us.
I went to one of the local pet stores on Sunday morning and bought food, a collar and some toys. I checked out the prices of dog crates and beds. Since she is part mastiff, she will grow to be a bigger sized dog. When I looked at the crates I saw the biggest were $100. The beds were around $50 for big dogs. $150 on top of the vet fees, and the $45 I already spent on food, collar and toys. I decided to hunt for cheaper options.
I put out a question on the frugal living forum at about.com asking for ideas for a cheaper dog crate and bed. The wonderful frugalities didn’t disappoint me.
Crate: I got information that often rescue places have some that can be borrowed. People also bought used crates from Craig’s list and other classified ad websites. Thirdly, I was told that we do not need to crate the puppy unless she shows tendencies toward chewing and/or is not housebroken. (she is pretty much housebroken!). If I can find a small room for her to be put in with toys, food, and water while we are gone, than that will be enough. Luckily, we have a mud room that will serve the purpose. Savings: $100!
Dog Bed: One woman told me to go to garage sales and buy a comforter or two and fold them up for Bella. These will be soft, washable and comfortable. Another woman told me to get some egg crate style foam and cover it with fleece throws by pinning it. I can cut to whatever size I want. I am going garage saling tomorrow to get some old comforters (king size hopefully!). Projected costs: $5-10, Savings: $40-45.
What really disturbed me is that in my excitement at having a new puppy, I was ready to spend $150 rather than look for cheaper solutions. I slowed down and thought there must be another option. By asking for help from other like-minded people, I saved so much money. The next time you have a situation where you are ready to plunk down large amounts of cash for something that you “need” to buy, step back and think about other solutions. Or join the discussion on the frugal living forum and ask for other ideas. The forums are a great place to learn how to be frugal and how other people do things in a frugal manner.
On Saturday evening, we were befriended by a puppy. Long story short, my husband, who has been adamantly opposed to getting a dog, fell in love with our new addition, Bella. Bella is 7 months old, or so, and is part mastiff (yikes!). She is an unruly and spunky 45 lbs. She will put on 10 lbs in the next month, the vet told us.
I went to one of the local pet stores on Sunday morning and bought food, a collar and some toys. I checked out the prices of dog crates and beds. Since she is part mastiff, she will grow to be a bigger sized dog. When I looked at the crates I saw the biggest were $100. The beds were around $50 for big dogs. $150 on top of the vet fees, and the $45 I already spent on food, collar and toys. I decided to hunt for cheaper options.
I put out a question on the frugal living forum at about.com asking for ideas for a cheaper dog crate and bed. The wonderful frugalities didn’t disappoint me.
Crate: I got information that often rescue places have some that can be borrowed. People also bought used crates from Craig’s list and other classified ad websites. Thirdly, I was told that we do not need to crate the puppy unless she shows tendencies toward chewing and/or is not housebroken. (she is pretty much housebroken!). If I can find a small room for her to be put in with toys, food, and water while we are gone, than that will be enough. Luckily, we have a mud room that will serve the purpose. Savings: $100!
Dog Bed: One woman told me to go to garage sales and buy a comforter or two and fold them up for Bella. These will be soft, washable and comfortable. Another woman told me to get some egg crate style foam and cover it with fleece throws by pinning it. I can cut to whatever size I want. I am going garage saling tomorrow to get some old comforters (king size hopefully!). Projected costs: $5-10, Savings: $40-45.
What really disturbed me is that in my excitement at having a new puppy, I was ready to spend $150 rather than look for cheaper solutions. I slowed down and thought there must be another option. By asking for help from other like-minded people, I saved so much money. The next time you have a situation where you are ready to plunk down large amounts of cash for something that you “need” to buy, step back and think about other solutions. Or join the discussion on the frugal living forum and ask for other ideas. The forums are a great place to learn how to be frugal and how other people do things in a frugal manner.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)