I posted this last January, but thought many of you probably didn’t read it way back then! I have to confess that as I’ve gotten busier this last year I have purchased (*gasp*) pre-packaged snacks, but this morning I was in the kitchen filling up my Dollar Tree containers for the kids! (And our grocery budget has gone up to $50-$60 per week. . . my kids are eating us out of house and home!) I’d love to hear what other tips you all have for living frugally, beyond just clipping those coupons 
This is a little LONNNNGGGGG – hang in there!
I’ve had friends ask me how I keep our grocery budget between $40 and $50 weekly (we have a family of 5, and this includes all toiletries, diapers, paper products, etc.) First, I think I’m a little genetically predisposed to living frugally. If you visit my Dad’s house he’ll probably tell you to use only half of the 2-ply toiletpaper – I think he’s kidding but I’m not completely sure! Also, my husband provides very well for our family so that I can stay home with our kids, and I hate to see his hard earned money wasted on consumable groceries that don’t last. So I work really hard to spend as little as I can on groceries, because I’d rather have money to do the things we really enjoy, like giving, cute clothes for our kids, and vacationing (we love that one!) Here are a few things that I’ve found work to pinch a few extra pennies in our home.
Constantly try to think of ways to use less. We rarely use paper napkins (I have a huge stash of cloth ones) and we use rags instead of paper towels as often as we can (my hubby hates this one). The dishwasher doesn’t run until it’s completely stuffed (saving on dishwasher detergent, water and energy), and I use half a dryer sheet instead of a full one or a very small amount liquid softener (even that’s a luxury, when I’m being really cheap I just use vinegar!) It’s rare that I even use disinfectant wipes to clean because they’re just too expensive, instead I buy cleaners at a really good price (less than $.50 per bottle) along with good ole’ fashioned rags and each bottle lasts quite a while. I also try to use grocery sacks (the plastic ones) as often as I can for trash bags so that I use fewer garbage bags (I can never find a good garbage bag deal!)
When it comes to snack foods, skip the snack-sized bags! My kids have to take a snack to school each day, so I usually stock up on the very cheapest snacks I can find (they’re getting a little tired of Chex Mix, but it’s just so stinkin’ cheap!) and pack it in small plastic containers that I found at the Dollar Tree so I don’t waste Ziploc bags. I also sometimes bake homemade muffins or snack mixes and they have those for snacks. My kids don’t get juice boxes or water bottles, instead they get plain old tap water in plastic bottles. (I did pick up some of the BPA free ones in the fall, so I feel a little less anxious about that whole plastic thing!) We really do stick to milk and water in our house and very occasionally orange juice when I find a great deal on it (except for my Publix diet cola addiction!)
Stock up on meat when you see a good price on it. When I find chicken breast or ground beef for less than $1.99/lb., I buy as much of it as my grocery budget can afford. I also stock up on any basic pantry items when they’re really cheap, such as pasta, canned goods, frozen veggies, and frozen bread. If I have leftovers of meat that won’t get eaten, it gets frozen for another meal! It really does hurt me to see food wasted, so I constantly think of ways to eat up everything we cook (another one that my hubby doesn’t always enjoy, but he’s willing to sacrifice!)
I sometimes worry that my kids will have way too much to talk to their therapist about after growing up with this penny pinchin’ mama, but every once in a while I see glimpses of penny pinchin’ even in them. They love it when I come home with a new fun freebie (the free Nesquik was a big hit last week!), and they’re always excited to sample something new when I find a coupon on an item we haven’t tried yet. I really hope to teach them that we don’t always need everything all the other kids have, even when we sometimes could afford it if we chose to. And along the way maybe they’ll learn that we’re called to use wisely what God gives us, and to share with others, hopefully creating lasting, meaningful joy (you can’t get that in a juice box, even though my 2 year old would disagree!)
These are a few things that work for our family, but I know they won’t work for everyone. I also know that a lot of you do way more than this to save money – do you have other penny pinching tips that help your family? I’d love to hear them!
I have gone back to hanging my laundry on the clothesline like my Grandmother did and I also use lots of rags in place of papertowels.
All my leftover veggies, such as greenbeans,etc go into a freezer container for soups down the road, leftover rice is mixed in with my dog’s food (helps their tummy) if there is not enough for another meal. After a certain time in the evening, we turn all the lights out and just watch the tv in the dark and never do we leave a room without checking that all the electrical appliances are off and unplugged. I also have gone back to making my own biscuits and homemade goodies, again like Grandma did….She truly was a very wise woman and I am so Thankful that she and my Grandfather taught me so much! This year, I will start my own garden and am learning to dehydrate and can food.
Wow Carol – those are some great ideas! It’s interesting to think of how much we live with SOOOO much, and how we can pare down things if we choose too!
I would love to hear more about what homemade snacks you make. We love snacks, but they are expensive and I would love to get away from prepackaged stuff.
We save money by using cloth diapers, except at night. Since we have two in diapers, it really is worth it. Our dishwasher is currently out of service so we do all dishes by hand. I coupon a lot. My husband picks up most of the groceries on his way home from work so I don’t have to use gas. This year we are going to start a garden. We mostly have simple dinners.
I love reading about how to be thrifty!
Some of our snacks are pretty basic – cheerios, cheez-its, pretzels, just packaged by me instead of by a manufacturer! I also have a few muffin recipes we love (when I actually have time to make them!) –
Homemade Apple Dumplin’ Muffins
Raisin Bran Muffins –
Blueberry Scone Muffins
Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins - http://passionatepennypincher.com/?p=1327
We have always had a garden and I’m sure you’ll love having one too; when we keep up with it I usually make most of my pasta sauce from our tomatoes (although I did a rotten job keeping up with it last year!) I’m so impressed that you do cloth diapers. . . that’s a HUGE commitment (especially when you’re washing dishes by hand too!) Keep it up!
When my kids were in school they used to love cinnamon toast as a snack (spread margarine on bread, sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar and bake until crunchy) or peanut butter toast. They also liked cereals like frosted miniwheats (since I wouldn’t let them eat sweet cereal for breakfast). Raisins, homemade granola bars and such were also hits. Since my oldest has problems with processed foods I made almost everything from scratch and that saved a fortune and it was easy to plan on have extras for lunches and snacks.
I 1st want to say I love your site and read it daily. (my husband thinks I am addicted and I tend to agree!)
I am a newly stay at home mom (full time student). My 5, 4 and 21 month old do my shopping runs w/ me. My rule “if it’s not on the list we can’t buy it” A lady in line thought I was brillant when 1 of my kids was asking for something and I handed him my list he says “yeah, like that would be on your list, his sister says we can’t get it then. HA!
sometimes I think “poor kids” then I think, hey maybe they will learn they can’t have everything.
I LOVE the idea of having everything on the list and letting them know nothing else is allowed – what a great idea! I’ve had the same thought about my “poor kids” and then I take a look around my house and realize they’re doing just fine
Thanks so much for sharing!
This is one of the best ways that I have found to save a lot of money on our food budget- my son takes his lunch every single day! Here in Madison I think it’s about $40 a month for hot lunch, For $40, I can make several month’s worth of healthy, delicious meals that I know he will enjoy. He’s in 5th grade, and his best friend told him that he wish his mom would bake cookies for him
Another frugal thing we do- non grocery related, is to go to the library! With all the books that are required for him to read, we would have to spend at least $30 a week just to keep up his AR goal!
I am AMAZED at how expensive school lunch is, but my kids do eat it 2-3 times a week (which is just silly, I know better!) Thanks for the reminder Tammy, and love the library idea. . . it’s great for free movies too!
Thanks for all the tips newspapers are also get to clean mirrors and windows and work great in garden to keep down weeds lately I have began to make my own cleaning products for a fraction of cost.
We use them in the garden to keep away the weeds also, but I forget to use them for the windows … great tips!
Can tell this one is from 2011. With $1.99 ground beef mentioned. I wish!
I know – those were the days!