A Simple Trick!

I recently found a great way to wring the last little bit of cream or lotion out of a container, and it was so simple, I don't know why I never did it before! Normally for things like toothpaste or foot cream that come in tubes, I use these little gadgets that slip over the crimped end of the tube, and you gradually slide it down and it helps move the product down into the dispenser end (sorry, no photos, but I hope you know what I mean). Well, I had one tube of foot cream that was too wide to slide into the opening of the slide-thingy, so when I got to the point that I couldn't squeeze any out on my own, I cut the tube in half and used a small rubber spatula to scoop out all the remaining cream and put it in a little Tupperware midget container. I must have used that extra cream for about 2 weeks.

Like I said, really simple, but it had never occured to me to cut the tube open before. I'll do that every time from now on. It won't save enough money to cover the braces my youngest son will need this year, but like I have said many times before (and will say again), every little bit helps!

Timeless Advice

My mother in law was looking through a very old church book yesterday and found a bookmark in it. This bookmark was from January 1925 and it had the following printed on one side, apparently a handout from the Grant Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. These words ring as true today as they did 84 years ago. I find item #10 to be especially insightful considering the time it was issued...just 4 years prior to the stock market crash and the beginning of the Great Depression.

FINANCIAL STANDARD

1. Work and Earn. Never expect to get a dollar without working for it.
2. Pay Your Tithing Promptly.
3. Save. "If you can save, you will be successful (financially). If you can't, you will not."
4. Make a Budget. Practice thrift and economy.
5. Buy for Cash. Keep out of Debt. Possible exception to this rule may be made, if necessary: a) for a mission, b) for an education, c) for a home, d) for an income (I believe that means to get started in business, perhaps)
6. Keep a Record of Expenditures. It has been said that that man is not likely to fail who keeps an accurate account of his assets (and liabilities, if any) and of every dollar he spends.
7. Own Your Home.
8. Never Break Your Word or Your Contract.
9. Carry Life Insurance.
10. Secure an Income. Choose safe investments. Avoid get-rich-quick stocks and schemes that promise lavish returns. "6 percent and safety" is a good motto.
11. Take Care of What You Have.
12. Share with Others.
13. Consult with your Bishop.

Slogan: "We stand for sound financial practice."

--Standards of Right Living, Ward Teaching and Home Evening, Grant Stake, January 1925

Reality Check: Cell Phones

Reality Check is a recurring feature here on RLF where I will look at one of the monthly spending categories I listed when figuring out our monthly expenditures, and break it down a little further, exploring options for cutting the expenditure down. Today's expenditures: cell phones.

We have been with our carrier, T-Mobile, on a family plan for years. I can't even tell you how long. My husband, my oldest son, and me are on the plan together (our middle-schooler doesn't get a cell phone until he reaches high school). It is such an old plan that it doesn't even have a fancy name. We share 400 minutes a month and my son has 400 text messages a month. Total bill with all the taxes is right around $81/month.

We use the cell phone for all our long distance, and even so, with three of us on the plan, we never come close to the 400 minutes. I guess we aren't chatty types. My husband uses his cell phone the very least (maybe if he could actually feel the phone when it is set to vibrate, he'd answer it more often...but that's beside the point); in fact, on the bill we received right after my layoff, he used three (3) minutes!

I researched a variety of plans from a variety of carriers online and talked with representatives from T-Mobile and TracFone (which I was considering getting for my less-than-talkative husband), and was unable to come up with a cheaper plan. This is primarily because no one offers a family plan with such a low number of minutes anymore. If we had moved my husband off of the family plan onto a prepaid plan, T-Mobile's plan ($10 for 30 minutes that expire after 90 days) was better than TracFone's, but it still would have saved us only $20 every 3 months. However, we won't do that now because my husband stepped up the pace, and used 27 minutes on our most recent billing cycle.

Sometimes it seems like a disadvantage, having already been trying to live reasonably frugally prior to the layoff, because there are fewer "luxuries" to trim. Really, the only way we could cut down our cell phone bill would be to get rid of cell phones altogether. I'm not ready to take that plunge just yet. With a teenager who will be driving this summer, and who is already supremely busy, having that easy way to be in contact is a mind-easer.

Getting Back to Frugal Business

Wow, with Christmas and being snowbound for more than a week, things have really gotten away from me, but now that the snow is melting away and the hubby is back at work, it's time to get back into gear. I'm not looking forward to my next heating bill, as we were all at home running the heat at our standard 67 degrees during the very bitter cold and the snowstorms (vs. being at work or school--the kids missed FIVE days--with our furnace set at 63 while we were gone). The snowstorms also forced me to do my grocery shopping at a store that I don't normally shop at, but which was easier to get to (no hills), and boy, did I notice the difference. Talk about sticker shock! I can't wait to get back to Albertson's and Safeway tomorrow.

I'm pleased to report that we spent about $30 less on Christmas this year than we did last year (hey, it's better than spending more). I did a ton of shopping, especially for my hubby, on amazon.com this year. One thing I learned about that is if you see a good sale price on amazon, you have to grab it right then and there, or risk the price going up next time you are out on the website.

I'm finding the after-Christmas sales to be good, and I hope you are too. I've picked up lots of wrapping paper, gift tags, gift bags, wrapping paper, ornaments, small gifts for next year, etc., at prices 50-75% off normal. My best bargain so far has been 6 strings of 25 C9 outdoor lights (red and white ceramic lights) and 12 packages of 4 green C9 replacement bulbs for $19.37 after tax.

Look for more posts from me in the new year as we all try to make our way for as little money as possible in the new economic environment.

Happy New Year!

25 Quick and Easy Ways to Improve Your Financial Situation

I found this great article online last summer and had saved the link to use as ideas for this blog. However, I am just now getting around to it, and realized that it would be better to give you the link to the entire article, written by Jeffrey Strain, and let you read it all for yourself. He has some great ideas, none of which are terribly time-consuming.

If you try any of these ideas, you'll have to let me know. I've not been terribly successful with calling the phone and cable companies and asking for better rates, and I honestly think that my washing machine doesn't do as good a job in cold water. What really impressed me was his ability to break his soda habit--I'm trying to do that, too, and I am proud to say that I am down to the occasional diet Coke or diet Cherry 7Up. Not only better for my pocketbook, but my teeth and my health as well.

Frugal Holidays?

With the calendar inching ever closer to November, the holidays, too, are inching ever closer. Does it fill you with dread, too, or just me?

I'll just come right out and say it: I am a miserable failure when it comes to being frugal at the holidays, Christmas particularly. Each year, we sit down and set out a budget of how much we want to spend for each person or family, then we proceed to blow it, despite my efforts to keep us reined in.

I grew up in a household where there was not much under the Christmas tree most years. And, you know what? I have absolutely wonderful, fond memories. Never once did I think that we didn't have enough. My husband, on the other hand, grew up in a household where his parents scrimped and saved throughout the year (have you ever heard of someone not having garbage service because it cost too much?), then went bonkers with Christmas. He, too, has fond memories of Christmas. We've tried to strike a happy medium, but always end up with me feeling like we've spent too much. I then spend most of January being very grumpy about the Christmas bills.

We set some money aside each month for Christmas spending (though we tend to dip into that envelope throughout the year, so there is never quite as much in there as there should be), and of course I shop sales and look for deals, but still. I always find myself wishing we had done better come December 26.

So, Frugal Readers, I turn to you for inspiration. How do you save $$ during the holidays without feeling like a 21st-century version of Ebeneezer Scrooge? Do tell!

When Is It a Good Deal?

A fellow Frugalite (is that a word?--it is now, I guess) posted a question on one of my other posts, asking:

Okay, so the advice I want from a more experiences frugal shopper than myself is: what do you consider to be good prices? I mean, obviously 4 cents or 9 cents or something I could pay with in pennies is a good deal, but is shampoo only a good deal if it's under a dollar? How about canned vegetables? Ground beef / chicken? Socks?

I know this is a seemingly impossible task, but I wish I knew what all the "normal" prices of things were so that I could know when I was beating them.I think 2 lb blocks of medium cheddar cheese at $3.99 each at QFC is good though. I'm less sure about good prices for soup, vegetables, chili, yogurt, and lots of other things.

I don't know if I have "the answer" for this question, but that won't stop me from weighing in. It is very hard to keep track of what all the normal prices are for things. That is one of the reasons I use The Grocery Game for planning my shopping. That said, I know that not everyone can shop at the stores for which the Grocery Game publishes shopping lists. There's also a book sold on the website that teaches people how to do the calculating for themselves. This is not a plug for the book. I've not read it. I'm just saying it is there if anyone wants to try it out.

I think for everything, a "good" price is relative. The more you shop, the more you get a feel for what's "normal," and when a sale is really good. Also, you have to recognize what a true bargain is for you. If you swear by a shampoo that you can only get at a salon for $10/ bottle, then no matter how cheap a grocery store shampoo is, it won't be a deal for you.

My rule of thumb is that for most things, especially items with long shelf lives, I try to wait until they are at least 50% off. This makes buying the things that we use all the time and I purchase weekly (milk and produce, for example), which I can't hold out until they're 50% off, a little less painful.

I think it's outrageous that I sometimes have to pay $4.49/lb for 96% lean hamburger. Not to date myself, but I can remember getting hamburger for 99 cents/lb (granted, it was probably not 96% lean, but you get the picture). So, when I can find it for around $3 or less, I am snatching it up and freezing it.

It's funny that the question asked specifically about socks. I had just bought some for my boys the day before, as all their pairs were threadbare. They are both very picky when it comes to socks. Both like the short socks, one only will wear Gold Toe brand, the other wants "whatever is comfiest." So, I just went to Fred Meyer and bought the socks, not really paying attention to what they cost. Luckily, I chose some Champion socks for my oldest, and they were buy 2 packs get 1 free, so that saved me a little. I also think socks are one of those things where it doesn't pay to buy the cheapest brands, at least not when we are talking about very active boys. I find the good brands, like Gold Toe and Champion, will last 18 months to 2 years, whereas some cheaper store brands (even Old Navy) last much less time.

I hope this answered the question, at least a little bit. Shopping and deal-hunting is definitely a game, kind of hunting and gathering for the 21st century.

Tough Financial Times

With all the financial worries in our country right now, things are getting a little scary. But, it's times like these that make me glad I have been trying to be frugal and responsible with my money. I'm not going to say anything one way or the other about the bailout, because, quite frankly, I can't even begin to understand it all. But, I can see the stock market continue to take a pounding, watch as more and more houses in our area go up for sale (and stay on the market a very long time), and it gives me pause.

Our bank--where we have all our checking and savings accounts, as well as our mortgage and home equity line--failed, but thankfully, it was taken over by another bank that we know and trust. So far, the transition has been seamless, and we don't have any reason to fear; with our excellent credit rating and on-time payment of our mortgage payments, I'm sure our new bank will be bending over backward to keep us as a customer.

All of this uncertainty and instability in the financial markets makes me even more dedicated to finding ways to save money. I haven't yet taken any new steps in response to the crisis. For now, I am just continuing to do what we have been doing...watching spending, looking for deals, stocking up on food and other essentials, trying to keep my driving to a minimum, etc.

So, Frugal Readers, if any of you have made changes to your lifestyle or your spending and saving habits as a result of the recent financial crisis, tell me. I'd like to know what steps you are taking. With your permission, I may use some of your ideas as topics for upcoming posts.

Getting the Most Out of Your Inkjet

A friend and reader of this blog gave me this great idea for saving ink when printing out things on your inkjet printer that don't necessarily need to be at photo quality. She uses the draft black & white mode for printing things like online shopping receipts, boarding passes, etc., essentially anything that doesn't need to be in color. I like this idea! I'll be using it lots, I am sure, especially for those things that I mentioned in a previous post that I print on the backside of previously used paper.

She also had a question, which I will post to all of you to see if you have an answer (because I don't). She wanted to know if there's a good source for getting refills of your inkjet cartridges. I used to go to Island Inkjet (when they had a location in my mall) when I had a Lexmark printer and the refills worked just great. However, my HP 3-in-one machine is very particular about what ink you use. I tried a refilled cartridge once, and it gave me a warning error that I had to clear for each page of a print job. I didn't even use up the entire cartridge!

So, if anyone can give some advice on reliable sources of refills for inkjet cartridges, give a shout and I will post them here.

Things I Never (or Rarely) Buy

As promised, I'm going to start listing things that I rarely or never buy. Here are three that might surprise you.

Trash bags. I think in the 13 years we have been in our current house, I've bought 2 large, Costco-sized boxes of the large black trash bags. We don't line our trash can with them, and I've just never had much use for them. In fact, I think I use the large garbage bags more for non-garbage uses (bringing dirty laundry home from vacation, keeping things clean in the attic). In the house, even in the kitchen where we only have a small trash can under the sink, I have always used plastic grocery bags. Now, one might think that because I bring my own reusable bags to the grocery store that I would at some point run out of plastic grocery bags, but so far, that has not seemed to be the case. They must multiply like rabbits! I don't know how much kitchen trash bags cost, so I can't estimate how much money I have saved over the years by not buying them, but I suspect it is substantial.

Paper Towels. Yup. Seriously. I can't remember the last time I bought paper towels. When we emptied my grandparents' house 2 years ago (after they had both passed away), I brought home a package of 8 rolls. I think I still have 7 left. We lived with my husband's parents when we first moved back to town, and she never uses them, either, which is how I got out of the habit of using them. I learned from her that it really is just as easy to use a dishrag or kitchen towel for most messes. There are times when I will go out to the garage to get a paper towel, but not very often.

Paper Napkins. Another habit I got into while living with my in-laws was using fabric napkins at the dinner table. Everyone has their own customized napkin ring, and we use the same napkins several times before washing. 4 little squares of fabric do not take up any room in the washer and dryer, and are a breeze to fold (I draw the line at ironing them, as my MIL does). For those times where a paper napkin really would be easier or more convenient (packing in a lunch, etc.) we have an ample supply of napkins leftover from visits to fast food places.

Like I said, I don't know how much I have saved by not buying these things for the past 13+ years, but it has to be a fair chunk of change. Plus, I'm not adding products to landfills! I'd be interested to hear what you never/rarely buy, as well, and why.

"Secrets of Thrifty Families" in Parade Magazine

Today's issue of Parade Magazine (in the Sunday ad inserts of the newspaper) had several articles about families and how they save money. Take a read for yourself. I have a hard time believing that a family of 6 can make dinner for $3.69 total (not each), but that's what one family claims. The family must not include teenage boys, that's all I have to say! Anyway, it was an interesting article and the entire issue has some good ideas. If you don't get the Sunday paper, you can follow the link above.

(If you don't get the Sunday paper, you need to start, even if you just pick it up in the grocery store on Saturday. Two words: Grocery Coupons!)

B.Y.O.S.--and save!

I like to have a diet soda with my lunch at work. The vending machine in my office sells sodas for 50 cents a piece, which for a vending machine price is pretty good (I happen to know we buy all our own soda from Costco). However, I can do better by bringing my own soda from home.

I only buy soda when it is on sale, and try to get it well below 50 percent off. For the purpose of this post, I have figured that I can generally get a 12-can case of soda for right around $2.30, or about 20 cents per can. I bring the entire 12-pack to work, stick it under my desk, and pour myself a nice soda on the rocks (using my Tupperware tumbler and ice from the icemaker). Over the course of a year, assuming a savings of 30 cents per can, I save $56.40 (3o cents a day/4 days per week/47 weeks per year). That's more than enough for a pedicure, though not quite enough to fill up the gas tank on the Sienna!

So, BYOS (bring your own soda) and save!

Real-Life Frugality: A Mission Statement

I've been mulling over ideas for a second blog for a while now. Lately, my mind has been a little preoccupied with the economy: the price of gas, food, and other commodities; finding ways to raise a little extra money, pay off the car quicker, and set some money aside; and (last but not least) how to reduce the carbon footprint of myself and my family, and consume fewer resources. It's a lot to digest, and I didn't think it was quite right to use my family blog for such thoughts.

So, here we are: Real-Life Frugality. I got a little overwhelmed by the huge numbers of websites and blogs devoted to this subject. Some are very good, with very practical ideas; others are what I would call "way out there," and while I applaud their efforts, I just don't think it's practical for me to try to eliminate all plastic from my life, for example.

But there are things, most of them small, that I can do—that we all can do. In this blog, I will share ideas that work for me, and invite you to leave your comments on what works for you. And, in time, our small changes will hopefully add up to larger results. Are you with me?