The Frugal Perv

[Lilith]

I am working really hard to be as frugal as possible but to still get the things I need and really really want. I'm no longer being frivilous in my spending habits. If I really want something I will still get it but not on a whim.

I'm starting in the kitchen. I went to WalMart today and did a lot of research before I went. I am hunting delicious recipes that can be made on the cheap.

I also want to buy/make/make do things as frugally as possible.

I want to spend $$ on the things that matter. I figure if I start now, that trip to Italy will happen sooner than later.

Are any of you cheap/frugal/practical?

Tell me your secrets...

[SethAwakened]

well i dont have any specific recipes
but i can tell u what saves money
make stews and soups more often
they seem liek they use a lot of food to make but they make so many servings that its worth it
so basically anythign that will feed you for 3 or more meals will save u money
chili and boiled dinner works too
beef stroganoff made with hamberg is also a good money saver
sorry i dont have any specific suggestions but you can find some good recipes on the internet

[SethAwakened]

almost forgot beef, chicken, and turkey potpies made from leftovers are both good and money saving

[FlirtWithMe]

When making bolognese sauce this time of year I make it in bulk and freeze it in family-sized portions. I add shredded carrots and finely chopped (or shredded) rutabaga to pad out the meat and make it go further. Lots of mushrooms, too, and extra cans of chopped tomatoes.

A cheaper version of bolognese can be made by replacing the meat with lentils. I tend to use the green ones and a small amount of red. The green ones have a better texture, imo

Root vegetables bought at their cheapest can be chopped small and frozen, to use later when the prices at the store have shot up

Check out end-of-day bargains at the store. Meat and bread can usually be bought pretty reasonably at a knock-down price at the end of the working day. Freeze these for use at a later date

Watch portion sizes. Try to find a guide of portion sizes and measure everything for a week or so, re-learning what a 'normal' portion looks like. This will save calories as well as cash

Buy veggies in season

If you find you have bananas starting to overripen, peel them and freeze them to use later in smoothies

Make soup or stew in bulk and freeze. You could add pearl barley to either of these to make them go further

Take a packed lunch instead of eating out

Make cookies instead of buying them and if you make a large amount, freeze some then take out a few each time you need some. Same for cupcakes

Make your own surface cleaners, there are countless recipes on the internet for homemade cleaners, or for speed, buy a large multi purpose cleaner, put a small amount in a spray bottle and fill with water to get a surface cleaner at a fraction of the cost of buying a ready-mixed one

Wash dishcloths at 140F to kill germs and reuse several times

Spend a small amount of time planning your weekly or monthly meals and shop accordingly. Know what's in your freezer and cupboards and take this into account when planning. Leftovers from the evening before make perfect 'free' food to take with you for lunch the following day

Eggs are cheap and healthy. Make omelette/frittata using various leftovers from throughout the week, meat/veg/potatoes and serve with salad for a quick, easy and light evening meal

If you have fruit or veggies looking past their best, they're probably still ok to eat cooked up to a certain point so even if they're a little wrinkly, chop them and add them to soups or stews, or bake fruit in the oven and serve with yoghurt for a low-fat dessert. Apples that have gone slightly wrinkly are great for this - add sultanas/raisins and a little cinnamon too

I'll post more if I think of anymore :)

[jseal]

Cook enough dinner portions so that those who are able to take leftovers to work the next day for lunch can.

[Oldfart]

Eat out at friends places often.

[smithy020]

check the price comparison web-sites to see if you can save money by changing gas/electricty suppliers.

Always make a list before going shopping for food.

Never go shopping while feeling hungry, You end up spending more.

[smithy020]

a good way to save on gas/petrol costs is to make sure all your tires are at the right pressure and that your not carrying any un-needed extra weight in your car.

So out with the travel Dom kit Lil! It maybe fun but its keeping you from Italy.....

[Lilith]

If I were a proper traveling Domme I'd be getting my way paid to Italy ;) Hmmmm that gives me an idea...

[wyndhy]

coupons, of course and only for the things you'd normally buy (duh). bring a calculator and do the math on the price per unit cost, not the price of the actual item. i save quite a few bucks that way. replace all your disposable crap with re-usable stuff. no more sandwich baggies and paper towels, it's tupperware and sham wow from now on (<--that dude's commercial cracks me up!) cold water washings and ONLY when your clothes need it. hang dry. invest in a vac-sealer and buy bulk for everthing from cereal to steak. buy generic. call all your credit companies and try to get a lower rate - long term that's HUGE savings and you'd be surprised how many companies will negotiate. get rid of cable.

[scotzoidman]

get rid of cable.
What, & give up my high-speed perv...I mean, internet connection?!?

When they pry the mouse from my cold, dead fingers...

[wyndhy]

good grief! i'd never suggest such a thing. that would be insanity:p i meant the premium movie packages, etc. if you've got 'em.

i was just doing laundry and remembered another $ tip. using half a dryer sheet works just as well as a whole one (if you even need them down there in the steamy south)

[jay-t]

To water your yard or garden use rain barrels, 1" of rain on a 1000sq. foot roof produces 600 gals of water.

[scotzoidman]

I come from a long line of skinflints, so being frugal (or a cheap bastard, as dw lovingly calls me) is just second nature. Of course, my idea of things that are basic necessities would have my forebearers doing pinwheels in their graves...

[MommyMaggie]

I am all about buying the lb bag of popcorn kernels and cooking popcorn the old fashion way. Take a tablespoon of olive oil, bring it up on medium heat - pop the popcorn and lightly salt. I don't know - like 2 cents a serving ;)

[Lilith]

tastes better too

[Oldfart]

I have a corn popper I bought years ago, pops the kernals in hot air.

It's more economical than using the stove, and you can use the dry stuff

instead of styrofoam when sending stuff.

[scotzoidman]

I still have my air popper, buried in the corner cupboard somewhere. Oil-free popcorn is prob better for you, but like most things, "good for you" & "tastes good" don't co-exist in the same universe. But using dry popcorn as packing material is an excellent reminder tho'...

[Lilith]

I love air popped with grated cheese on it! Yum!

[Zephreck]

One of the things I use to spend a ton of cash on was lunches. Over the years it is amazing how much even going out to eat at a "fast food" restauraunt can add up to.

I went through many different things trying to find something worth eating that I wouldn't get overly tired of for my lunch. I work nights so my lunch ends up being in the middle of the night so it is a bit different than others lunches. Anyway I found one of the most inexpensive lunches was a can of soup and some crackers.

You can get the "off brand" soups from Wal-mart usually around $1.50 a can. The tops are pull tops so easy enough. I just take one can, some crackers in a baggie, and a bowl and spoon to work and it is pretty good meal. Thankfully we have a microwave that works well for that.

Other ways to save I have found is:

Gathering coupons from the sunday paper and taking the time to read the food adds and actually plan going to more than one store. It helps if you have a selection of grocery stores that are close to one another. By doing this alone I have saved on average of 30 dollars out of a 60 dollar visit to the grocery store. It is kind of a hassle at first but you get use to it. It is most effective if you go when they give double value to the coupons.

I also buy groceries that makes alot of servings such as chili, spaghetti, etc and buy the inexpensive freezer containers and portion it up to take for lunch etc.

Not sure any of these helps as I am single and you have a family to take care of but figured I would share nonetheless.

Sincerely,

Zeph

[rabbit]

Tell me your secrets...

Two words: Sam's Club.

High quality, good deals to be had if you know what things cost.

[MommyMaggie]

Remember to clean out the kitchen - often.

If you go to Sam's club but don't use all of it and toss it - not a good thing.

However, if you really are going to eat that 5 lbs of pine nuts more power to ya!

I suggest cleaning out the kitchen right before a trip - serves many purposes...you know what you have, you have the visual of what you tossed and any sort of preplanning is amazing

I'm huge on coupons too, but they can be a hassle.

[Oldfart]

Walk a neighbourhood (not your own) with your walkabout phone. When your phone rings, because by chance you share a frequency, answer it and argue with the person on the other end, unless it is a Morman or salesperson, in which case you immediately accept all offers.

You hang up and immediately ring MommyMaggie, asking for all things IKEA related because you're not paying the bill.

Did I mention that retirement's fun?

[PantyFanatic]

http://smileys.on-my-web.com/repository/Happy/happy-054.gif

[wyndhy]

we are effin broke and doing anything we can to spend less. i need a job, like now. i want to start up a licensed preschool but the reconstruction schedule is making everything impossible to plan. perhaps a night job. yikes. new boobs may need to wait.:( ah, well. cestpool la vie.

[lizzardbits]

Mayhem & I've been living frugally for the last 2 1/2 years so it has become pretty much a way of life. We do the usual buy in bulk, grocery sales, veg garden, pack sack lunches and the like. We cloth diaper Baby Mayhem. (cloth has come a long ways from pins & rubber pants) We use cloth napkins & kitchen rags. Plus I make my own laundry soap-8 gallons worth for about $2. Line dry when I can, vent the dryer into the home when it's cold out to save on heating. Summertime around here there are a lot of free community family oriented events like parades & swimming & library reading clubs. We "rent" movies from the library, or do net flix, rather than paying for dish PPV movies. Eventually I will start making our own bar soap, canning & pickling our own veggies, and baking bread. I love 2nd hand shopping, & searching for a good bargain. I'll think of more later but this is all my phone will let me type out. :)

[Lilith]

Recipe for the laundry soap please???

[lizzardbits]

I need to tweek the recipe a bit as it is a bit watery, like cut the 3 gallons of hot water requirement at the end and see if the ultra concentrated version works as well...I'll make some either today or tomorrow and report back to ya. ...I wish my phone would let me make the list out with bullet points so that it is easier to read, and that my characters per post are limited, what I will do is post the ingredients and equipment needed in one post and the directions in another.

[lizzardbits]

*1/2 cup Arm & Hammer WASHING soda (not baking soda) *1/2 cup 20 Mule Team borax * 1/2 bar of Fels Naptha laundry soap (grated finely) *4 quarts water *3gallons very hot water *1 large pot *1 long stirrer *1 over 4gallon bucket *1 old cheese grater for the bar soap *1 funnel *Several containers to put completed laundry soap in, but avoid the laundry jugs with spouts, as they tend to clog *a ladle to help spoon the new soap in funnel, or an extra set of hands to help pour it

[lizzardbits]

Heat the 4quarts water, grated bar, borax and washing soda over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until soap is melted. Let cool for about an hour. Stir in 3gal hot water. Cool and add to containers. Use 1/2cup full per large load. Has a light lemony scent, but if scent is your thing a splash of essential oil in each batch could be added. The borax, soda, and bar was found in the laundry aisle at my nearest hy-vee grocery store, but wal mart does not carry 2 out of the 3. Also, for me, as the soap was cooking, there were a few fumes that made my eyes water, so good ventilation whilst its on the stove might be a good idea, however afterwards there is no fumes, and my sensitive skin peeps have had no reaction : )~~~< The cost for soda and borax was less than $4 a box, and the bar was less than a $1. So for this recipe I can make 86 gallons for $15, but i am gonna try the ultra concentrated version and let ya know

[Lilith]

Very cool Lizz~Thanks!

[themi01]

Lizz saw the first 3 ingredients My Mom and Grandmom used them but didn't realized the even made them anymore does it work in H3e (High efficiency) washing machines ? By way of everything else I vegetable garden using local produced oceangro (not a misspelling ) fertilizer My neighbor is a county employee so he get plenty of it for free Google oceangro it is relatively environmentally friendly product pm me if you want more info

[Lilith]

I make my own compost at school and home to help with the gardens.


Lizz- I was at WalMart today and they had the Borax for $2.98 a box and the A &H washing soda for $2.12. I did not see the bar soap. But I am going to work on a recipe when I get back from vacation. I like this idea and it sure would save me a ton!

[Aqua]

Lizz- I was at WalMart today...
:eek:

:spank:

[Lilith]

:eek:

:spank:


When they build one in YOUR front yard let me see you avoid going to it.

[wyndhy]

we're still broke, only more so.:p i have managed (no choice, really) to feed a family of 5 on about 100/week - take THAT government statistics! - we've cut out meat with every dinner (prolly healthier, anyway) and that's saved us a bundle. nothing goes to waste. if i make it but my kids won't eat it, it sits waiting for them until they are hungry enough to choke it down. *puts on the geezer voice* when i was your age we ate mud...and we LIKED it!

[wyndhy]

almost forgot. i found out that if you wait to use a coupon until it's almost expired, the item's almost always on sale. subtract the double coupon discount and it's practically free!

[Lilith]

We don't have any places in my area that do double coupons. :(

[wyndhy]

what what what! rise up and protest!