Rename Cost-Cutting Financial Slimmers And It Doesn't Feel So Bad - What Are Yours?
It is fitting that one of my financial "aha" moments came about because of a wallet.
When I lost my adored embossed bubblegum pink leather wallet from the designer Karen Cullen I was momentarily depressed because I couldn't justify, with my reduced circumstances,
a reason to repurchase it. So I reluctantly shifted gears and went to T.J. Maxx where I found an orange leather substitute for $16.00.
In a few days, I found a way to like my orange wallet, appreciating the fact that its design allowed openings not only for my driver's license but a family picture I saw every time I flipped it open. Sure enough, three weeks later, my wallet was found and returned. But guess what? I still really like the orange wallet.
The lesson learned here is that there are many painless financial slimmers all around us. For the same reason I hate the word "diet" is why I wince at the words "can't afford." Makes me feel like I'm starving or deprived. However, a financial slimmer seems positive which is why I now look at life through that prism, especially since the years of living dangerously have been radically replaced with the year of living frugally.
There also is a surge of victory every time I find a replacement for something I paid more for in the past. This is "The New Normal" and since necessity is the mother of invention, revel in your resourcefulness and share your financial slimmers with us.
Here are 10 of mine.
1) When at the grocery store buy generic. It saves you a fortune -- as much as ten cents to a $1 on each item ranging from cereals, canned tomatoes, frozen vegetables, household cleaners to club sodas. You can also have similar savings on items at the pharmacy ranging from aspirin to mouthwash. The difference between Tylenol and the generic brand was $4. However, there are certain items where the quality brand is worth it and those companies deserve your business. While America's Choice frozen vegetables are worth it, their pie crusts taste like dust while Pillsbury reigns supreme. (Although I've tried, I can't seem to master the pie crusts at home). Nestle's chocolate chip cookie dough is another example as is Paul Newman's Limeade, which also benefits charities.
2) Another money slimmer is buying in bulk at places like Costco once a month. This is where my friends have loaded up on items like detergent, paper towels and dog food. However, buy only what you need and an amount you will use. Too many overbuy. If like me you are also doing triple duty as soccer mom, career mom and gymnastics mom, another solution is using the delivery services like Stop n' Shop. They charge a little extra for delivery but drop off all the bulk items so you save time and costs of transportation and lugging all the groceries to your house.
3) I used to buy several bunches of fresh flowers every week. I'm from the school of Andrew Weill who says that part of the 8 essential things for a healthy life -- along with broccoli, soy, garlic and blueberries -- is fresh flowers. They are rejuvenating and elevate your mood as well as add a cheerful burst of color in your house. I now use bud vases for flowers vs. vases. Don't have one? I've also substituted long stem glasses for bud vases that I bought another time at Pier One for $1. To be more inventive, I've also used cuttings from colorful bushes in the backyard to add to the floral mix -- and it's free.
4) When you use the washing machine, use the cold cycle. Makes no difference on whether the clothes are clean and saves a whopping 50 percent of energy costs. Also since as much as 60 gallons of water is used for each cycle, make sure that the washing machine is full. Ditto for the dishwasher.
5) According to Kiplinger's, appliances that include a clock or operate by a remote, as well as chargers, are sucking electricity even when you're not using them. Of the total energy used to run home electronics, 40% is consumed when the appliances are turned off. The obvious way to pull the plug on so-called energy vampires is to do just that -- pull the plug. Or buy a device to do it for you, such as a Smart Power Strip ($31 to $44, at www.smarthomeusa.com), which will stop drawing electricity when the gadgets are off, and pay for itself within a few months. By the way, an unused toaster uses 1000 watts per hour compared to a laptop that uses 75 for the same period of time. When I read that I was amazed.
6) Consolidate electronic costs in your family. We were paying for my mother's cell phone but now I put her on a family plan. I'm embarrassed to admit but I wasn't paying attention to our cable costs either. There were hidden costs that I questioned and got removed. With my stepdaughters now out of the house, I also removed the cable boxes which is a savings of $6 a month. When they visit, they can watch TV in my son's room or the den.
7) Use fruit for displays. I now put green apples in red bowls and add a few green leaves from outside as a garnish. It's pretty and also useful. After a few days, I use the fruit for apple crisps.
8) Renegotiate with your credit card company. The companies know President Obama is on their case and can no longer take the position that the company won't budge. Or have someone do it for you since there are some reputable companies that help with your debt consolidation.
9) I love scented candles because candles, flowers and music create an inviting ambiance to soothe the nerves and restore the spirits. Often the cheaper candles smell awful. However, Pier One's Aspen Flower is as good as any high-end brand. Another well priced brand is Archipelago and the candles last for months.
10) Make weekly menus. I should have done this years ago. Since we're eating at home for almost every meal, I plan each dish and as a result never buy extra food. According to one study, people buy between $10-$40 extra by not planning menus. Also, wasted food adds up. I bought an $8 pair of pants on sale at the Gap for my son last week which is the equivalent of salad and a few vegetables that rotted in the fridge after a few days. The amount of food that is wasted is a money zapper. Be vigilant and creative. Weekly dishes -- spinach pie, meat loaf and roast chicken -- also make good leftovers. Planning menus is far more organized and efficient and I feel virtuous knowing I'm not being wasteful anymore and can use the savings for other necessities as well.
Now tell us what are your financial slimmers. We are all in this together and can help each other out with examples of resourcefulness.
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thanks jill! these are great suggestions. i want to suggest everyone there's always someone more needy than your self. spend time giving away things you no longer need or wear to the your local church or community centers. i promise you that these kind acts of generosity will make you rich in spirit . and isn't that what it is all about?.
ebay! sell the stuff you don't need and buy the stuff you want at a significant discount.
Here's a thought about #9, the scented candles. I like them a lot too, but they are pricey, and often, as Ms Brooke mentions, the inexpensive once are stan-key!
I would suggest that you look into using an essential oil diffuser. There are a lot of beautiful ones out there that heat the oil with a votive candle -for instance: http://www
But inexpensive ones that you plug into a wall socket as the heat source are less than $10. The advantages are that you can change your scent as often as the mood strikes you, even mix your own custom scents, there's a lot less waste (no big candle jar to dispose of).
The thought also occurs (although I don't know this for sure, I'm just guessing) that it may be less toxic to the body to scent a room in this way rather than with a candle, which is probably scented chemically. Perhaps those who know more about the field of aromatherapy can tell us more about this?
I compost (no more buying potting soil and use fewer garbage bags), wash my floors with vinegar (78 cents per gallon), use reusable microfiber cloths instead of disposable sweeping pads, clean up toothpaste splatters with a microfiber cloth while the bath is still steamy from my shower (no more window cleaner in the bath), recycle (again, fewer garbage bags), buy meat in bulk and freeze, buy only what is on sale to enforce more variety in my diet, make my own ice cream and sorbet (I picked up an old ice cream maker at a garage sale for $2), cook in a crock pot (2 cents per hour appliance use), wash vegetables in a two-part colander and save the water for plants, get plant cuttings or seeds from friends, grow my own herbs, have houseplants instead of air filters, and many more cost-saving measures.
How about putting some baskets on your bike and riding to the market - you get exercise, incur no carbon costs and you can only buy what fits in your baskets.
Or host a clothes swap party. Invite your friends for cocktails and have them bring lightly worn clothes that they don't want anymore. Put them on racks and everyone can leave with a different outfit feeling like they've just been shopping.
I also go do a once a month shop at a bulk warehouse, I absolutely always stick to my needs & only allow two treats, like Naked Juice or some Pillsbury product for each "spree," I find that allowing those treats keeps me on task.
I only use cloth napkins, never paper. We all have a water glass we assign ourselves on the weekend days. I go up the mountain to a natural Spring and fill four or five. five gallon water bottles for drinking and cooking each week. I use glass bottles for individual uses, daytrips, hikes, bike rides. After buying some fancy Voss Sparkling water we use those bottles for above mentioned. Keeps the water tastier and colder.
Using a chicken til it has not one more function, I happen to be famous for. Roast, sandwich, salad, croquettes, soup, broth for pasta (or anything,) usually in that order. I have been so broke raising my three children alone I invented a dish I am fond of calling "hint-o-chicken," it is simply pasta cooked in broth.
Buying a wallet from TJ Maxx instead of a designer one will save you money? Shop in bulk?Wow! Thanks genius!
Family Dollar:
1. Sun Detergent.
2. Scented candles.. fantastic!
3. Paper towels, toilet tissue and facial tissues are cheaper and just as good.
4. "Kitchen towels" in the automotive department. You get several for $3.00.
My Grocery store:
1. I can't tell the difference in Coca-Colas and the store brand. 6 packs of the small cans are 4 for $5.00.
2. Buy bagged and prepared salad mix...you won't waste as much.
3. I cook for my dogs and buy the meat, rice and vegetables at HEB. Dogs are healthier and food is cheaper.
4. Don't eat meat~~saves a fortune.
Home:
1. I unplug EVERYTHING.
2. I wash with cold water. I dry them on a line in backyard.
3. I fill gallon jugs with the water that flows out of faucet before it gets hot. I use it for plants, pets and rinsing veggies and fruit and coffee!
4. No cable.
5. My truck is a 1999 Chevy Silverado. I get 22 mph.
Me:
1. Clothes come from a delightful little thrift shop. Two pairs of Ann Taylor slacks (one pair NEW) for $2.00.
2. I do my own hair...
3. I raise my vegetables in front yard. I have huge tomato plants in tubs that I bought for $3 at my feed store.
4. I feel my wonderful birds cracked corn .
5. I walk.
These are great ways to save money. Personally, I'm on an energy saving kick, and it's amazing to me how much money is wasted on electronic devices that aren't even on, but still suck a lot of juice. The smart power strips are fabulous. Also, replacing all your light bulbs with the new CFLs or even the high efficiency, and dimmable Philips Halogena make a huge difference in savings over time.
The problem with Costco and Sam's is that unless you are religious about following a list you come out with a bunch of stuff that you can't use up fast enough and stuff you really don't need. My husband pointed out that Sam's is not cheaper than our local Sunflower market.
I buy all deterg on sale or at Walmart (I know, I know...but it's cheaper there) Walmart does not have inexpenxive veg or fruit, plus I would rather support the smaller guys.
For veg and fruit, we have Sunflower Market and also if you have a great Asian market close by, the veg are amazingly inexpensive. I know lots of people doing CSA farm this year. If I didn't have to come up with $450.00 up front, I would have done it.
I like buying one of those mondo huge cans of tomato sauce, some hamburger and pork with some herbs and garlic. I can make enough sauce for three meals. It's cheap and easy. Also buy a huge sack of rice, do stir fry and rice. Cheap, etc. I made this coconut chicken curry soup that probably cost me, about $11.00 to make. It lasted three days. Put it over noodles and voila!
There was a column on NRP about recipes for the cheapest meals.
Target's Golden Steak Sauce sells for $1.57 a bottle. It is the exact same product as Heinz 57 and you know how much that costs.
I plan my weekly meals according to what is one sale that week at the grocery store.
If ground beef is on sale then I make a LARGE pot of spaghetti sauce and send 1/2 home with my son. The canned tomato sauce and diced tomatoes I buy when on sale. The celery, green peppers, mushrooms, onions that also go in it I get at the dollar store.
I purchase all my produce at the dollar store, cruise the shelves for canned goods and then hit the regular grocery store for other items.
I keep track of what stores have killer deals, like Target's steak sauce, and pick up those items when I'm in the store for other reasons.
Yes, it's amazing how much we can save...jus
Also: buy grains by the pound. Brown rice, granola, bulgar, etc. It's so much cheaper than packaged rice-a-roni or those Asian noodle packs. Throw in a couple of fresh veggies, and it's a great cheap meal. Throw in some beans for protein ($2 for a bag of lentils or black beans that will last you until June). I've now mastered the $2 meal, and it's filling!!
Can anyone recommend a reputable places that help consolidate debt? i saw in one of the ny newspapers that a couple of places are being accused of taking advantage of the people who come to them for help. Cuomo is on their case. So it is hard to know who to go to when there are so many awful Americans out there trying to hurt people further in these already difficult times.
Contact NFCC.org (800).388.
Ooopss forgot underwear and sock are likely better bought at Target or Costco that at GoodWIll
We buy at Costco and Foodsco ( discount chain) almost exclusively, and since one of our friends is having a real rough time we split some of the big bulk packages with her, and still end up paying less per unit that we use than if we bought standard sizes at the major brand name chain Since we have the time we buy 90% of our clothes at GoodWill and Salvation Army. The number of Brooks Brothers and Pendleton shirts as well Tommy H and Ralph L and Eddie B etc etc etc....as well as levis and wrabnglers and some "designer" brand jeans as well is amazing. what you can't easily find there are good men's shoes or belts. Keep lookng and bargains on men's jackets are mind boggling, And the thrill of the chase.
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