Today is Tightwad Tuesday over Beingfrugal.net. http://beingfrugal.net/
My bit of advice is to pay cash whenever you can. Since the beginning of this year, I've been trying to do just that. It doesn't always work, but I find if I stick to a list, I can do it. Combining coupons and sales helps, too! (Yesterday, I brought home almost $40 worth of groceries for $18!)
The kids pay me cash for car insurance or rent, and I try to use this so I don't dip into my pathetic bank account. (Pathetic because of trying to keep up with bills, like so many others!) If I have $25, I try to aim for spending less than $20.
I've been doing Grocery Game for a long time now, and have a good stockpile that helps keep my list short. On Sunday, I'll print out a list of possible purchases, but then I'll go through it and cross off things I really don't need. I try to save at least 50%. It wasn't easy when I first started, but as I think about what I already have on hand, I can cut things off the list.
I have cashed in change, scratch-off lottery tickets and bottle receipts to get a few extra bucks. It isn't going to erase my debt, but it sure does help with the groceries.
After all, your food bill is probably one of the most flexible expenditures (right word?) in your budget!
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5 comments:
Good for you to try to pay cash for everything. My friend writes down in her checkbook everything she puts on a credit card, just like she had written a check. Then when the bill comes, she writes a check and she never misses it. I've been trying to avoid using credit cards too, but during Christmas fell off the wagon, as usual. But when the bills came I am paying them off. But they sure do add up!!!! :o)
Great advice. I "play" the Grocery Game too, it has saved me lots of money, and I also love having the stock pile.
I just started saving money at the grocery the last couple of months. I didn't realize what I was missing out on! It's nice to just "fly" through the grocery now and get just what's on my list -- and not pay more than $50 a trip!
We use cash for everything it is so much easier! For our vacation we used our debit card since we didn't want to carry all that cash and it was weird!
Toni
Such good advice Clare! The grocery bill is one of our biggest challenges....thanks for the tips!
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