Thanks Cathy one of your posts got me thinking , I spend way to much money and I know it .Maybe as a group I could have more will power .Why don't we all see how much money we can save in a week .Lets make pizza instead of buying it , no Mc Donalds , no convience foods .Give me some more ideas please .Lets all share what we did to save money .It works for weight watchers and jenny craig why not for saving ?

-- Patty Gamble (fodfarms@slic.com), September 14, 2000

Answers

Hi Patty, Sounds like fun. This morning while I was grocery shopping, I found a huge package of bathroom tissue for quite abit less then what it normally is. I got it. It will take months to use but still better priced then the 4-pack on sale. Lots of neat deserts make out of the overabundance of apples on the trees. Fresh fish tonight for supper that was from a day of pleasure afew days ago. Instead of throwing the bluegill back, we eat them and tasty they are. The sun is shining today and of course the laundry will be hung outside using the free energy that is God given. That is just what is happening here today. Will be looking for every response. Bet you all can think of more. Jean

-- Jean (kjean@i-rule.net), September 14, 2000.

My family is vegan (no animal products in our diet). We drink a lot of soy milk, which is very expensive in the grocery store. (We don;t like the powdered stuff). So, I take a package of that silken tofu, put it in the vita-mix (blender works too), fill to just a couple inches below the top with water, add a capful of vanilla and about a quarter tsp. of salt, and maybe a couple tablespoons of honey. Blend on high for a minute or so, and voila, yummy soymilk for half the cost of the store bought stuff.

-- Shannon (Grateful Acres Animal Sanctuary) (gratacres@aol.com), September 14, 2000.

I think this is a great idea! How about refusing to drive unneccesarily? And define exactly when to drive and the reason for it. Combine trips. At the current price of gas and after reading what OPEC says, I'm afraid that most of us need to do that anyway. Remember those long gas lines from the 70's and the higher prices of everything because of the gas shortage problem?

Instead of purchasing a needed item, look around and see if you already have something you can recycle. I'm always saving jars and such that I think I might need some day when I'm low on money and high on need. It's funny, when that time comes, I've forgotten about what I've saved. Maybe I need an inventory list of all my "I'll need it someday" junk.

I can't wait to see what everyone else does.

-- Cheryl Cox (bramblecottage@hotmail.com), September 14, 2000.

This is a great one. I always stock up on sale items I know we'll need. We don't make any unnecessary trips to town and try to combine several trips into one. I make all our food from scratch including our bread, hot dog and hamburger buns. I buy 50# bags of wheat berries for $20 (organic) and grind my own flour. I shop for most of our clothes at thrift shops and yard sales. Most of hubby's tools are 2nd hand. I have a self-made rule - I rarely buy anything unless it is on sale and then it has to be something we need and not buy it just because it is on sale! I buy wrapping paper for the whole year after the Christmas sales. Lots of Christmas wrapping paper can be used for any occasion. I buy used books when I can find them. There are many ways to save money and to me it is a game! I can't wait to hear some other ideas!

-- bwilliams (bjconthefarm@yahoo.com), September 14, 2000.

I quit buying daily newspapers at work when they doubled the prices. Instead, now I read the online editions. This saves me $6.00 a week.

-- Jay Blair (jayblair678@yahoo.com), September 14, 2000.

I have done this for years and I hope the newspaper people don't get wind of this but~~~I purchase the "end rolls" of unprinted newspaper at the newspaper office! There is always several 100ft. on a roll and it has never costed me over a dollar. I use it for Christmas packages(I use rubber stamps that say "TO & From" instead of name tags.I use pinecones, holly leaves and berries, magnolia leaves and other greeny to decorate adult packages and rubber stamps for children's gifts.) I use it for any kind of packages-birthday, wedding, shower gifts! I use it for washing windows and mirrors. I use it for lining shelves in the kitchen,bath and laundry room. I use it for packing things to ship or store so they don't break. I use it wrapping my garden seeds in for the winter. I use it to make banners for birthdays, welcome ,homecomingsetc. I use it to let the kids drawn on. I have used it in training puppies. I have put it down to catch mud, snow and ice! I make patterns for my sewing, crafts and stained glass!!

Try it and let me know what you think!

-- Debbie T in N.C. (rdtyner@mindspring.com), September 14, 2000.

Wow, Patty this was a great idea, but Mc Yuks !!!! not hard for me to quit that, I used to drive the kids to Mc Yuks and drive somewhere else for myself, after hearing about the lady who has carried one of their hamburgers in her purse for 5 yrs and it hasn't ruined yet, I don't even take the kids anymore. More on a serious note. Yeah, I agree I do pretty good, but it's a game and a fun one,when you have someone else to cheer you on. When I go garage saleing, one of my biggest pleasures is telling someone else what a steal I got.

One thing I do if I'm having trouble with a spending bug is play a game with myself, "I say" :" do I need this or just want it?" NEED WANT NEED OR JUST WANT? It works pretty well, then I have to ask myself do I already have several like this and do I need another or will I use another. I do that as to not accumulate to much junk, (which is easy to do). REad that thread about commericial food products, thats enough to discourage anyone from eating out! I also bake from scratch, to save money and be healhier, I don't have my own grain mill, but a friend does so when I can get to her house to get some wheat ground I bake our own bread, sweets etc. For the kids and hubby's lunches I make our own pudding and put them in our own rewashable containers, buy large cans of fruit instead of pudding and fruit cups, don't buy chips anymore, if they want salty snacks I pop popcorn for lunches to replace chips. I'm all for not going in the car so much, my kids and the demands of our lifestyle "I guess" are running me ragged, not sure I'll be able to change that soon, I've got one in football, I volunteer at the school twice a week, then there's the B-day parties, church, going to the bank, grocery, etc. I try to combine all this stuff in one day when I can. Hey one way to save money is to NOT go to WAL-MART Ha, Ha, they have all these tactics to get your money, my hubby and I can go in there for 2 items and find 20 we need. So I'v started asking people who I know are going to pick up the things I just can't get anywhere else cheaper. Our wal-mart is 32 miles away anyway. I have lots more money saving ideas but I've got to fix that from scratch supper before my hungry herd gets home. More later. Carol in Tx

-- Carol (cwaldrop@peoplescom.net), September 14, 2000.

Lots of interesting ideas here! How about cutting down, or cutting out, on alcohol, cigarettes, and all those two or three dollar cups of espresso? I don't dare suggest cutting out coffee, as I would probably get banned from the entire internet, not just this forum.

JOJ

-- jumpoffjoe (jumpoffjoe@yahoo.com), September 14, 2000.

i go to the local farmers market in the spring and ask if i can have the left overs at the end of the sale,mostly damaged veggies, i supply each vender w/ a trash can w/ lid and pick them up at the end of the day.they donot have to haul it away and i get free hog food.

go to your local feed store and ask if you can prepay for 1 or 2 months of feed our gives a nice discount because they know how much more they can order and they get a volume discount.

do not buy coffee to go,buy insulated cups at yardsales and brew at home.

get w/ a bunch of folks and buy in volume, we have landscape company so we all get together and order plants once a year.we make wish lists and see what kind of deals we can get.

never carry more then 20$ and no checksor c.cards.

-- renee oneill (oneillsr@home.com), September 14, 2000.

Patty, great idea! Are we going to set a specific week and have a "NO BUY Out", then compare savings? Could be fun.

I know processed food is more expensive than from-scratch but it has saved us some money: 1.)We always had Friday night out at Pizza Hut but it became to expensive. So as an alternative we began buying frozen pizza to fix at home. Now it is a family tradition to have pizza and a movie (video) every Fri. We can eat 3 pizzas and rent a video for less than 2 pizzas with drinks at P.H. 2.)When we get busy working around the house it is really easy to just jump in the van and go out to eat instead of taking the time to fix a meal. To save money we have started buying heat and eat foods (burritos, techittos, fish sticks) so instead of going out we can pop these in the oven and eat in 20 minutes for a fraction of the cost. (This is not a everyday occurance) 3.) D.H. has started drying 4 loads a week on the clothesline and our Natural Gas bill has still gone up this summer. 4.) D.H. now also bakes all our bread and tries to bake cookies, instead of buying, when she has the time (you know between soap-operas and eating bonn bonns).

-- Vaughn (vdcjm5@juno.com), September 14, 2000.

say pardon me for being so bold has anybody got a cigarett thats already rolled. no dang it ill quit them. and also the pop. but the rest of it alcohol at least ill do home made if any one has some.im back to 55 mph and then only when i have to go somewhere.good idea. Bob in s.e. ks.

-- Bob Condry (bobco@hit.net), September 14, 2000.

My husband hates it but I garbage pick. Got a great excersice bike this week. Wish I could hook the thing to the TV so I could save on eletric. "You can watch as much TV as you can pedel" Sometimes I'll be fixing or building something and my husband will say, "Where did you get this?" "Garbage." Bulk pickup is tomorrow. Wonder what I'll find.

-- Dee (gdgtur@goes.com), September 14, 2000.

Saving money has been our way of life. (Thats in quotes, because Im wondering how you can save what you dont have but anyway.) Sunday night pizza has been a tradition at our house for decades. A cup of water, enough flour to make a dough, a tablespoon of yeast. Roll it out, add some homemade tomato paste, and whatever else is around: green peppers, wild mushrooms (agaricus campinellis preferred here, or oyster), ground pork, goat, venison or whatever (or homemade sausage of any of those). If youre feeling rich, or dont have any homemade cheese, how much does a little mozzarella cost? Or even some store- bought pepperoni or anchovies!

Starting with that 1 cup of water, we have leftover pizza for lunch for Monday and Tuesday,

Tuesday is liver night. Or tongue, or heart. Learn how to spice it up, how to cook it, and its cheaper than eating cat food. Even if you have to buy it. And of course if you butcher your own animals

Friday in Wisconsin means fish. Mostly, hopefully, caught on weekends, for the price of a few worms (which we get from the garden).

In-between, there are meals of home-grown chicken, chevon, rabbit, beef, and in summer, vegetarian meals from the garden. (Tonight we had summer squash, corn, tomatoes, and a salad that could have been a meal in itself.)

Beans! (We usually grow at least four different varieties and cook them in the solar oven whenever we can. Or on the wood stove in winter.)

Potatoes---also homegrown of course. Boiled, baked, fried (french and hasbrowned) and in soups and stews.

Soups and stews! With leftover chicken (or other) bones, a few carrots, spuds, turnips, some celery some of my favorite meals. For pennies. Add a few homegrown herbs and you have a meal you cant buy in the finest restaurants.

Breakfast: Eggs. Hashbrowns. Biscuits and gravy. Pancakes. (Try a cup of flour, and a half cup each of buckwheat and cornmeal. Add a few eggs, depending on how the gals are doing in the henhouse. A tablespoon of baking powder, a little bacon grease, a tad of salt, and enough water to make a batter.) Or homemade granola. Or just a dish of whatever fruit is in season---wild or cultivated.

Clothes? It takes me years to wear out a pair of jeans, or boots, or a shirt.

If you're in debt---especially with credit cards---I can't help you. Paying interest is the most profligate waste of money I can think of.

And if you have kids... well, just wait until you get older!

Saving money is easy---and fun! jd

-- Jd (belanger@tds.net), September 14, 2000.

Patty, do you work outside the home? You gave me a new idea for a another question? Homesteader Christmas Ideas (Frugal ones). Yeah, if my hubby would give up snuff and soda's (even though they're generic) we could save a bundle. Good idea about Pizza, movie night, we can get a BIG pizza at Sam's for like $5.99 or $6.99 for a monster meat lovers one, when making your own some of those topping can get awful pricey! We've done the Sam's pizza a couple of times, but since the closest one is 50 miles away doesn't happen to often. NEW IDEA! Lets all eat beans & rice for a whole week! For anyone who has food storage, I've just eaten out of it before and not bought any groceries during a tight week or just cause I couldn't get to the store and it wasn't that bad after all. You would be suprised at what you can come up with. Carol in Tx

-- Carol (cwaldrop@peoplescom.net), September 14, 2000.

Hi Patty! What fun - a group effort, sharing all these ideas, it's great. Had to laugh at Carol's post about the beans and rice, 'cause I do it a lot. Honestly, Jd hit the nail on the head, for me, anyway. I was married and living way above my means for a while, never dreamed I'd end up on my own and stuck with so much debt. I'm not a stupid person, but I sure was foolish.

August was car insurance month, so I decided to see if I could cut back someplace else, and still be able to add to my savings account. (Lucky for me that I like tomato and cucumber sandwiches). I looked around me and realized I have a lot of food in the house already. Also, I know that I often bring home food from the store where I work without really putting much thought into it. But...the cost really adds up. Since I planned it for a few days in my head, I was able to make sure I wouldn't run out of the most important stuff, like coffee, peanut butter, baking yeast, things that I knew would force me to cave in. As the month progressed, I was able to really see how I frittered away money on impulse buying, even if it was on food. I don't buy prepared, quick fix stuff as a rule, so for me to buy a pizza was unusual. What it showed me is that I need to have a spot in the freezer and cabinet with food that I only need to heat and eat.

I kept a list of things I wished I'd had on hand, as they presented themselves, like a jar of honey, and some lemon juice. The beginning of this month I bought those things, along with 25# of brown rice and 25# of black beans. Next month I'm having another month-long No-Shopping, Save-My-Money Plan. Anyone care to try for a whole month? Just try to plan it around what you already have, no sense spending lots of $$$ this month just to make it "easy" next month. I admit it would be much more difficult to do if you have kids, which I don't. Thanks for bringing up this topic, Patty!

-- Cathy Horn (hrnofplnty@webtv.net), September 15, 2000.

A postscript to my post about soymilk (near the beginning of this thread): I said my family is vegan (no animal products in our diet) but then I referred to putting honey in our soymilk. I guess I should say we are ALMOST vegan, because we do use honey. Don't want to sound like a hypocrite!

-- Shannon (Grateful Acres Animal Sanctuary) (gratacres@aol.com), September 15, 2000.

We don't eat out, free firewood from the sawmill, hang clothes out, reuse water, never rent movies, hardly ever buy clothes, go to food bank, make all christmas gifts and just overall very cheap. One thing I HAVE to do is put a 4.3 liter in my big 83 Chevy pickup (305 4 barrel). The days of big engines are sadly over guys. It costs way to much to drive anymore (1.57 here) I can get a 4.3 with the tranny for about 300.00 used and do it myself, and be fuel injected and get way way better gas miliage. I have been going on Tradio for 3 weeks trying to trade Steve's truck (81 Chevy) for a smaller one or a small van. It's such a good truck for hauling, I hate to trade it. But his going to work each day, LOTS of gas. We spend WAY WAY more on gas than food and feed. I also need to get this cook stove into a little house outside! (a summer kitchen) I could use it for all the garden stuff, simmering all day for free. Or canning or bread or whatever. Wrapping paper-get those rolls of brown paper for mailing packages, Walmart has em. Very cheap and looks neat too. We decorated them. I use bailing twine for string. Looks exactly like something Martha would do! I have about 25 gallons of tomatoes to put up today, oh my, and 10 of peppers, oh my. But I am thankfull and happy.

-- Cindy in Ky (solidrockranch@msn.com), September 15, 2000.

I get animal feed from a local bakery and produce and bakery from a local food store .I have to admit we do use some of the stuff for us .Most of it is that days sale date .

I do have some down falls I have to work on .Soda and liking to eat out ! I need to get more meals in the freezer so it won't be so tempting . Keep the ideas coming .

-- Patty Gamble (fodfarms@slic.com), September 15, 2000.

I agree with J.D., homemade pizza is so easy to make and sure better than anything you can buy! We don't even like "bought" pizza anymore! Don't think I could go for the tongue though, I'd rather have beans! There is a multitude of things you can do with beans. Soups are definitely cheap. Save all you leftovers to throw in. Wast not, want not! Buy cheese in large quantities like at Sam's and repackage and freeze. That is if you don't make your own. Gas is definitely a big expense for us. My husband drives 30 miles to work each way 5 days a week. I'm trying to convince him how much money he would save if he quit! How many wives are trying to get their husbands to quit work! I agree with what someone said above, really decide if something you are about to buy is needed or can save you money. Don't buy on impulse. We also drive old vehicles and hubby does all the repair and maintenance himself. In fact, we never pay anyone to repair or do anything - we do it all ourselves. Even built our own house. That was a BIG money saver! I've always told my kids who are grown now, it is not how much money you make, but how you spend (or don't spend) it that counts! You can make a big salary and waste it all and be poorer than someone who is frugal but makes less money. Most important, throw away those credit cards! That interest will eat you alive.

-- bwilliams (bjconthefarm@yahoo.com), September 15, 2000.

I am a stay at home Mom of 4 children 5 if you count Hubby .We have a 140 a farm with beef cow, hogs ,sheep,goats ,chickens, dogs and cats .The kids are 14,11,8, and surprise 1.

I was all set to start saving money , knowing we have to go to town and how easy it is to stop for a burger I decided we should eat a good breakfast .So on went toast and I thought I remembered reading or hearing some where you can micrwave scrambled eggs . Well if I can save time and money thats for me .

In went 3 eggs for baby and me .Well I guess my microwave did read or hear that it could cook scrambled eggs and promptly blew them up .To bad the kids were at school they would have loved it .So know I had to not only cook more eggs in a pan but clean out The stupid microwave !I'm on the cats good side since the got the exploded ones .

-- Patty Gamble (fodfarms@slic.com), September 15, 2000.

Don't forget that you can can your own pizza sauce, I like making 30 or 40 half-pints each year, then you can make your own pizza anytime. If you are near an Aldi, their shredded mozarella is 1.99 a pound which is enough for 2 pizzas. I have frozen the cheese right in its bag and it is just fine for baking. I also pack lunch for my husband every day, usually leftovers in microwaveable containers or even pb&j sandwiches. Saves money on lunch and he doesn't have to use the truck to go out. He also takes coffee from home. Great ideas from you all!

-- Jean (schiszik@tbcnet.com), September 15, 2000.

Books and magazines are my downfall. I shudder to think how much money I've wasted on magazines that weren't worth the money, or books that I've bought and either haven't read yet, or read and didn't enjoy. I'm dropping all my magazine subscriptions, except Countryside. My mother passes me some of her old magazines after shes finished with them. A couple of others that I enjoy, I can check out at the library. For books, I found a used book store that will take your used books and give you credit to purchase theirs. The library is good. I check out yard sales for cook books and such. Impulse food purchases are another "biggie" that really blow our budget. I've found that when I plan menus for at least a week at a time, that really helps out. I grocery shop for everything I need at once, then stay out of the store. I enjoy cooking when I know what I'm going to fix and have everything on hand, and we eat much better and healthier, too. For clothes, we try to buy good quality clothing at off-season sales. (I hate clothes shopping worse than anything, so that's not a big issue for me)

-- (trigger@mcn.net), September 15, 2000.

I sold 5 goats the other day. That's five less to feed and carry over through the winter, and also, five less in the barn, so it'll reduce overcrowding, which causes sickness (and vet bills, medicine costs, and reduced productivity).The goats that are left, will be bred AI or to the best live buck that we have for her, and therefore the kids will be improved over their mothers, and wil be worth more, and produce more, or live longer due tobetter conformation.That's my idea of a savings! :) We go through an enormous amount of money in feed,so every goat we get rid of counts. Also, we are going to try to get our feed in bulk, about a ton at a time, which should reduce the costs considerably. About meals, it is tempting to look in the cupboards and think, hmm, what would I like to eat tonight, but now I've been trying to think "what do we have an excess of and what kind of a dinner could be made from it?" Right now we have lots of milk,eggs, summer squash, and beets. We'll have borscht for dinner, and often have some combination of squash and eggs for any meal. Soon we'll have apples to use, and winter squash. One other thing- don't go to Walmart if you can possibly go anywhere else. In fact, don't shop in town at all if you can help it! Buy plants and seeds through the mail. Shop at the thrift store or consignment store, ours has a trade in policy, you trade the clothes you don't want and get 50% of their value for credit on clothes that you need.

-- Rebekah (daniel1@itss.net), September 15, 2000.

Pattym thanks for this thread, lots of good stuff on it. Bartering is fun. Many years ago, I bartered baby sitting for a child's bicycle and a dishwasher. This year I'll barter home canned surplus for honey. Lay-away is good for us. The library's a good place to borrow movies. I saved money on two vegetable knives this week. I guess I threw mine away, couldn't find one North Vernon or Columbus, so I asked my sister-in-law if she'd look in Indy, she sent me two knives and said I wasn't to pay for them. I said "thank you". I bought 3 Bible story jigsaw puzzles at a yard sell for my grandkids, today. I bought my first cheese making kit, and I get the milk from my friend's cow, that will save some money.

-- Cindy (atilrthehony_1@yahoo.com), September 15, 2000.

I shop once a month. It is marathon shopping, fill the van with gas and groceries at Costco, I get home about 1:00 a.m. I can really save money when I leave the family at home, especially Dear Spouse.

My long-range plan is to finish fencing and pasture and get a Jersey cow so Dear Spouse will no longer need to stop for milk (and impulse purchases) on his way home from work.

If the kids want to go "shopping" we cruise the backroads looking for free dumps. We get lots of good stuff that way. Our entertainment is free, and our hobbies are "farm improvements."

SO WHERE DOES ALL THAT MONEY GO?

-- Laura (gsend@hotmail.com), September 15, 2000.

Lots of great ideas here! We live about 30+ miles from town, so on every trip, we take some snacks and a water bottle for each of us. If we don't, invariably the granddaughter will whine for a drink as soon as we pass a fast food place. Buy clothes at thrift shops and yard sales, as well as toys, puzzles, games, etc. Got a pickup load of bread free at the bread store, and dried it all in the garage and in the sun, then crushed it for the chickens instead of scratch. The sheep were whining, so they get a few hamburger buns each day with their hay. Lots of folks will gladly give you their canning jars, if you just let it be known that you are looking for them. Haven't broken the family of thier chip addiction yet, but I'm working on it! I'm determined to learn to make tortillas this year, as we like the tortilla chips. Make lots of our gifts, too, and can't wait to get started on some of the ideas on the thread about country gifts! Jan

-- Jan in Colorado (Janice12@aol.com), September 15, 2000.

There are so many great ideas on here! Like many of you, we are pretty far from town...15 minutes, but with the gas prices so high, I try to go in only once for the week, and try to combine the banking , groceries, rummage sales, feed store, ect. We buy alot at the health food store, as they sell bulk foods, for cheap. I can get a lot of yeast for less then those liitle packages, oatmeal, cheese, lots cheaper. We try to raise as much as we can, although our growing season in Wis. isnt as long as Id like! We also eat alot of the cheap meals, lots of potatoes, and rice. Husband gets a deer every year and so thats our meat, usually only get beef once in a while. I also bake my own bread, and alot of cookies, ect. With 3 kids, they dont last long.... I love rummage saling, and have storage boxes in the basement of clothes that are still too big to fit the kids. If I see jeans, or coats, ect, that are in nice shape, just big, I put them away for later. This way i can get most of our clothes used. Also have a big gift box, for birthdays, ect, and cheak clearennce racks, ect. for stuff. Sure beats running to the store to get something at the last minute! Also, we make our own gift cards, tags, ect. Whew, but where DOES the money go? Carrie in Wis

-- Carrie Wehler (carriew@ticon.net), September 15, 2000.

Water is always a must whenever we go to the store that is more than 2 miles from the house. I am always parched by the time I've finished grocery shopping and you can never find a water fountain...only bottled water for a mere .89 per bottle. We bought a really neat travel jug and take it everywhere. Every time we use it I figure we've save anywhere from 2.00 to 6.00 depending on what drinks are availabe at nearby fast food stores, etc. Did the same thing with coffee for hubby and I. The large thermos seemed extravagent in 1989 when we were first married. We're still using it and have proably saved a hundred dollars or more with it. It's also handy to keep a supply of cheap plastic or papaer cups in your car. If you must buy something to drink you can buy less and divy it up between the kids. I love this thread and plan on starting a no shopping marathon!

-- Jennifer (KY) (acornfork@hotmail.com), September 16, 2000.

For those of you that shop at a health food store, you save a lot of money by buying from a co-op once every two months. There's a thread in the archives with addresses. If you've got the room, you oughta check it out. I'll be getting my shampoo and conditioner this week to last a year for at least $1.50 less a bottle than I can get it at the health food store. Vitamins and herbs are cheaper-same brands. Tofu is less than a $1 a package. Whole grains are much cheaper and better quality than the grocery.

-- Cindy (atilrthehony_1@yahoo.com), September 16, 2000.

Wow, this is awesome! So many great ideas! One of the best ways for me to save is by cooking ahead, and freezing in individual portions. Today I'm having a Cooking Marathon! I make black bean and rice burritos, and wrap individually and freeze. I'll put aside a few containers of chili from the mix, before adding the rice. Corn muffins, in the freezer, too. A big pot of veggie soup, a couple of loaves of hearty rye bread, and a casserole of pasta with summer squash and onions. Talk about cheap!! Haven't decided yet on the desserts - apple something, at any rate, and cookies, probably oatmeal. This would be a good time to inventory the freezer, too. Sometimes I think I'm such an organized person....then I look in the chest freezer. Yikes!! Oh, well,it will be fun to find out how much is actually in there. You guys are the greatest!

-- Cathy Horn (hrnofplnty@webtv.net), September 16, 2000.

We went into town this morning to the day-old bread store, one of our favorite places. They always have 1 little cart with the snacks 6 for $1.00 (I Know-preservitives) but we love them. We got 42 apple pies and zingers for $7.00. Everyone just looks at us, thinkin we must be nuts! We get 12 loaves of bread for $4.00. I really want a bread machine! Hopefully for Christmas this year! And we found some really good jeans at the flea market for $1.00 each. It takes time diggin' but its worth it. We had a good morning! Zingers and new jeans! What more could a girl want anyway!

-- Cindy in Ky (solidrockranch@msn.com), September 16, 2000.

I showed Lynn this thread and she wanted me to share this which I forgot that we still do. She "supershops" using the Refundle Bundle strategy. It consists of coupons, rebates and premiums. It works best if you are a "stay at home person" as it can turn into a full time job, but you can save fifty to seventy-five percent of the grocery bill. If you want to check it out the address is www.refundlebundle.com. They have a book called Cashing in at the Checkout.

-- Jay Blair (jayblair678@yahoo.com), September 16, 2000.

to all those who hve trouble giving up sodas:

Check out the following book: "Homemade Rootbeer and Soda Pop" by Stephen Cresswell

Recipes*:

Mulled Ginger Apple Ale -

2 quarts water

2 quarts apple juice

2 ounces grated fresh ginger root

6 cinnamon sticks (3"-ish)

15 cloves

1/4 tsp. grated nutmeg (or a few slivers of whole)

1/2 tsp dried orange peel

Scant 1 cup sugar

Put 1 quart each of the water and apple juice into a pot with the spices and sugar. Simmer, uncovered, 15 min. and remove from heat. Cover and let cool for about 20 min.

Put remaining 1 quart each of water and juice into a 1 gallon jug. Add the liquid from the brewpot, straining out the spices as you go.

To use as traditional cider (uncarbonated) : Refrigerate immediately. Bottle and cap, if desired.

To carbonate : Put 1/8 tsp of granulated ale yeast (available wherever you get winemaking stuff) into a teacup with 1/4 cup of lukewarm water (poster's aside: who was this Luke and why did he like his water so tepid, anyway?) and allow to rehydrate several minutes. Verify that the temperature of the liquid in the jug is no hotter that lukewarm (him again!) , then pour the yeast water into the jug. Cap tightly, then invert the jug several times to mix. Bottle, then store in a dark place. Check carbonation after 48 hours, then again after 72 hours. When carbonation is right, refrigerate.

Makes 11 12-ounce bottles.

Cream Soda:

1/4 cup raisins, coursely chopped

6 inches vanilla bean

4 quarts of water

3" cinnamon bark

1 3/4 cups brown sugar, gently packed

1/4 tsp cream of tartar

1/8 tsp granulated ale yeast (and 1/4 cup warm water)

Place raisins in brewpot. Add the vanilla bean, 2 quarts of water, cinnamon, and sugar, then simmer, uncovered, for 20 min.

Remove from heat. Stir in the cream of tartar, blending until dissolved.

Cover, then cool 30 min.

Place 2 quarts of cool water into a gallon glass jug. Add contents of brewpot, straining as you go.

Place ale yeast in a teacup with lukewarm water and allow to sit a few min.

Verify that temp in jug is no hotter than that of the yeast and then add the yeast water to the jug.

Bottle, then store in a dark place.

Check carbonation at 48 hours, and then again at 72 hours. When carbonation is right, refrigerate.

Add a dollop (about 2 Tbsp.) of fresh cream to each glass when serving.

Makes 11 12-oz bottles.

Notes:

Brewpot should be 1 gallon to 6 quart stainless steel, glass, or enamel.

Always sanitize your equipment, brewpot, bottles, etc., to avoid contaminating the soda with wild yeasts and other microbeasties.

Use of only heavy glass bottles, such as old coke bottles or bail- tops, will lessen the possiblity of explosions. Resealable glass and plastic soda bottles will work, but the trick is learning how many times a screw-on cap is good for before the squishy plastic seal is no longer going to work. about 5 or 6 seems to be the safe limit, although experimentation can be done if you don't mind the mess of a failure. (Don't forget to add times bottle was resealed during the drinking of the original contents) 11 12-oz bottles is the minimum needed to bottle one gallon of pop.

Use caution when pouring out as homemade sodas will sometimes contain sediments like wine does.

*All information in this post came from the above mentioned book and is placed here for the personal and non-commercial use of forum readers. Please do not distribute these recipes in a manner inconsistent with copyright laws of the US. Thank you.

-- Soni (thomkilroy@hotmail.com), September 17, 2000.

Hello to all. Sometimes you have to spend money to save it.... (SPEND): I took a class on carving birds, I've bought equipment, supplies and wood with the money I've made on selling my carvings. I learned a hobby that eventually; pays me back. Saving in the long run on gifts, entertainment and my peace of mind... I hope this encourages others.

-- Dureen Hopkins (DurHp@netscape.net), September 18, 2000.

Patty, if you haven't already purchased The Tightwad Gazette books (3 of them) by Amy Dacyczyn, then you're missing out on some super ideas for frugal living. It's a "must have" book for those who are looking for ways to live comfortably on less and have fun doing it, too. Whenever my frugal resolve starts to wane a bit, these books always boost my enthusiasm and morale and get me back on the frugal track.

-- Liz Rhein (merhein@shentel.net), September 18, 2000.

I've been trying to think of anything I do to save money that hasn't already been mentioned. I did finally learn to make good yogurt, which is quite a savings, as we use a lot of it. My daughter and I seldom eat out, a choice partly dictated by the fact that we have gluten intolerance and have to be very careful about what we eat, but I wasn't raised eating out much, so was never in the habit of it. Our favorite entertainments tend to be 'free' things like walks, picnics, canoeing, library books, church potlucks, and so on. I just found out that one of the perks of my new job at the local hospital is that I can get a free library card in town, and I plan to take advantage of that -- our village has a very small library, and I've already read most everything appealing in it! Interlibrary loans are possible, but take time. Most of our clothes come from the thrift shops, and if I can't find what I need there, often I can make it myself -- not much savings in money that way, but at least I get what I want. Patty, the mention of the Tightwad Gazette books is good advice. If you haven't heard of them, they are really worth investing in. I've had them out of our little library at least three times, and want to get them out again soon. Another money saver -- our VCR doesn't work anymore, but when it did, we didn't rent movies - - we checked them out of the library. I'm very picky about the movies we watch, but we got some good ones that way, and a lot of documentaries, which my daughter loves! One thing that will save some money, for those of us with installment debt, is to make the payments on time, and avoid late fees. Pay some ahead each month, too, if you can, even if only a couple of dollars. And check your phone bills -- I just discovered that we'd been billed for a call someone else made, and have written to the company (Sprint) about it. Also, something my middle daughter taught me, after one of her teachers at the Christian school taught her, is to always check your shopping receipts right away, before you leave the store. It is not uncommon to find errors, even with the scanners, and it is much easier to get them fixed immediately. If you need incentive to control impulse spending, set a goal to work for, and put money in a piggy bank or a savings acount (depending on the size of the goal) towards that goal. Whenever you are tempted to spend on something you don't really need, think of how much bigger the fund towards your goal would be if you put the money in the piggy bank, or the savings account, instead. It might help to have small intermediate goals if the ultimate goal is very large or difficult to reach. And it may also help to substitute a smaller purchase sometimes for the originally desired one. I.E., if you are thirsty and hot, and you see a McDonald's in the distance, and the sight of the McD has you thinking of a hamburger, skip on by and stop at the grocery store instead for a cold drink from their coolers. That's all you really needed, anyway! Suggestion for those buying frozen pizza -- when you have time, make a few of your own, and pop them in the freezer for those times when you are all tired or in a hurry. I know it might not be cheaper than a store-bought one, by the time you put everybody's favorite toppings on, but it will sure be better- tasting! I was trying to figure out how to reduce our phone bill -- our long-distance calls don't really add up to a large amount, but the fees and etc. are costing us about $25/month. I'd get rid of the darned thing if I could, never have liked them anyway! But my husband reminded me that without the phone we couldn't be on the internet. Ah, well, enough from me for one night!

-- Kathleen Sanderson (stonycft@worldpath.net), September 18, 2000.

Gosh! Didn't realize I'd been so long-winded! Sorry!

-- Kathleen Sanderson (stonycft@worldpath.net), September 18, 2000.

Lets start a savings week next week ! Sorry I'm going to the Big E this weekend and we won't even talk about money , but we'll have lots of fun .

I've been making stuff for the freezer meatballs, bagel pizzas , mac and cheese .I need to continue .I usually hang are cloths but all it's done is rain lately !

Ther have been so many great ideas , can't wait to get started , and yes I have read the tightwade gaz . It was one of the first things I got when I started out with this dream .

-- Patty Gamble (fodfarms@slic.com), September 19, 2000.

To save LOTS of money-spend $19.99 on a huge book titiled The Complete Tightwad Gazette, by Amy Dacyczyn. I find use for this book every day! It bills itself as PROMOTING THRIFT as a VIABLE ALTERNATIVE LIFESTYLE. This is a book that screams frugag,frugal and more frugal. No, I`m not selling it. I just love this book!!!

-- Viv Lander (century2kay@webtv.net), September 19, 2000.

Definately try out the Tightwad Gazette!!! If you're unsure, try the library's copy first, but if you're like me, you'll want to have your own copy(ies) for reference. Not only really good (and useable) ideas on frugal living, but also on attitude adjustment. Read it through a couple of times and you'll be suprised how ingrained societies attitudes have become, even in we near-perfect Countrysiders!!

-- Soni (thomkilroy@hotmail.com), September 19, 2000.

I hate to admit it, but I also find myself stopping much more than I should for impulse items - usually edibles (esp. coffee). Heard about an idea on NPR and decided to try it, and boy did I build up a good savings. The idea is to allow yourself impulse stops for coffee, etc. but for every penny you spend on the impulse buy, you have to put an equal amount in your savings. Did my savings ever shoot up quickly. That really altered my spending habit - it gave me concrete proof about how much I actually waste. Now instead of spending on useless stuff, everytime I get the urge to buy somethng, I just immediately go contribute the amount the item would have cost to my savings. I'm now having a contest with myself to see how fast I can make my savings grow. Of course, this is easier for me b/c I still live in town and drive by the bank everyday anyway, so don't need to go out of my way. The payoff is going to be my savings account - it is my savings to buy land and begin my own rural homestead, which will hopefully begin this coming summer.

-- Julia Teneralli (tofubiscuit@excite.com), September 20, 2000.

My husband and I live in the city and with us both working, I have to get creative to save money. For me Menus are a must. I try to plan them around the meat sales until the fall when hubby stocks the freezer with venison. That's helps alot, it only cost the gas money to visit his parents 1 1/2 hours away. I plan dinners with leftovers in mind for lunch the next day. Weekends, we have a late breakfast and an early dinner and skip lunch. Luckily, we like ice tea instead of cokes. My dryer went out and I just didn't by another one. Less on my gas bill. I can hang them up inside when I can't outside, or our laundry mat is only 1/2 mile down the road for emergencies. Eating out is a problem when its so close and you are sooooooo tired after work. That's where a menu and the meat already defrosted in the frig helps sway you back to reality.

-- Kellie Duncan (kashaa@ipa.net), September 20, 2000.

I spend one day a week making up lunch box food for the rest of the week, some sweet stuff, some sadwich spreads, some trailmix stuff. That way, luch is a snap and when you add fresh fruit, a good variety is achieved without the same things every day.. Also have some dinner leftovers, etc. Helps in that I can buy the ingredients in bulk, knowing that I'll be using them before they go bad.

-- Soni (thomkilroy@hotmail.com), September 20, 2000.

I am really impressed with all the ideas everyone has put forth but what do you actually do? What I mean is where do you really start? I know lots of things to do and at one time did them, but then times got better and I had more time than money so we went the easy way now I'm having a hard time getting back into the make everything yourself mode. I make all my own bread, buy wheatberries and grind them and I buy from Ozark Co-op Warehouse [they are cheaper than the health food store but a lot more expensive than wal-mart]. I'm not eating cheaper just healthier, which is cheaper in the long run if you factor in health costs. What happens to me is I don't really think about meals until it is time to eat and then I just want something in a hurry. I guess I need to re-adjust my mindset. Any ideas on meal planning or good websites to go to for recipes? Most of the ones I run across have recipes that call for frozen dinner roll and prepared spaghetti sauce etc. Rather like those Pillsbury cook booklets at the checkout. They are interested in promoting certain products. I've really been having a hard time with this...I think part of it is not having kids at home any more and trying to pare down to just the two of us but we have to eat too. I don't really spend money otherwise, wellll that's not exactly true I love material and can hardly pass up a beautiful piece of fabric or a book. Those are my two downfalls but the way to curb that is to just stay out of the store. I don't even go to Amazon.com on the web. I have the Tightwad Gazette books and they are great but so much of what she suggests is something we are already doing or not an area we spend money in. But I am really guilty of wasteful spending where food and eating out is concerned. I have a wonderfully stocked pantry and just don't take the time to cook out of it. HELP!!!! ArtieAnn

-- ArtieAnn Karns (rokarns@arkansas.net), September 20, 2000.

In addition to many of the wonderful answers already given I have a few suggestions for those with children. Each August I give my children a set amount of money to use for clothing for the following year. this money is also used for school supplies, bookbags, etc (amazing that they don,t really need a new bookbag when it comes out of their account!!) I don't care what they spend their money on, if the money is in their account they can buy it. This really works even for a 5 or 6 year old because they know that they need to make their money stretch to last all year. I give each kid $100 ( I have 4 kids) and it is now Dec. and they have anywhere from $30 to $50 left. they must buy coats, hats, shoes, jeans, shirts, underclothes absolutely everthing they need. My kids all participate in various programs at our library and often get free meal coupons for various restaurants, we always drink ice-water (much better for you) and getting to eat out is a big enough treat for them usually. We also have a lot of fun figuring out how much each meal costs us, the kids all guess then we will analyze the cost and compare it to what a similar meal eaten at a restaurant would have cost. My mom amd step- father took my two youngest out for supper one night, as they were leaving he commentes that the $26 bill wasn't bad for all four of them. My daughter told him that sometimes mommy can feed the whole family a meal for only a quarter!!! He still laughs about this, but it is true. Keep saving and look at it like a game, where the big winner is you and the peace of mind you can have from knowing you can make it on little money and have fun doing it.

-- Melissa (cmnorris@1st.net), December 22, 2000.

Well I saved I saved $260 by buying a well pump and pressure tank for 75% of at the farm supply store. Got the whole Kitten kaboodle for $90. I know I probably saved a lot more than that this week because I have been shopping on a very strict Christmas budget this year. Here are some of my other bargains. New childrens video tapes, $1 ea., model horse and rider on sale from $30 down to 7.50. I bought the Life on the Farm game for 30% of the $14 pice tag, I also found little stocking stuffer toys from a drug store being closed out at walls for .66 each. This was quite a bargain as these toys normally retail for $2.00 each plus. I've been praying and praying and God has been stretching our money farther and farther. I honestly feel like the one picking up the twelve baskets at the sermon on the mount. pretty cool.

Little Bit Farm

-- Little bit Farm (littleBit@compworldnet.com), December 23, 2000.

I remember seeing a family on the Phil Donahue show years ago. Extolling the virtues of thrifty living. Are these the same people? Where can I purchase The Complete Tightwad Gazette? HELP

-- Regina Johnson (reginajohnson@hotmail.com), March 21, 2001.