Going Cheap Friday

Hey all. I know it has been a few weeks since an interesting post about how we are saving money. Sorry.. send me things to take a look at.

Some things I use to save.. I can't necessarily pinpoint how much we have saved, or in this case, made too with this topic.

Online resources for saving money.
1) Memphis Online Garage Sale: this is a yahoo group that I am a part of. You can get seperate messages for each post or you can get a daily digest of people selling or even looking to purchase items. I have bought a few things for next to nothing and sold quite a bit. Easy way to sell items you would in a garage sale without the hassle of having one. Find a group in your area. I will warn you though, use your best judgement with security. If I sell something, I always have people meet J (a man) away from my home address, or I will deliver it. I don't what strangers knowing where I live.

2) Memphis TN Area Freecycle: This is a online yahoo group where people will say "hey, I got this, you want it.. come get it". They don't want to fight with selling it and are just giving it away... I have found great coupons that people will mail to you (or J's work, hehe.. security). I know some people have even gotten never opened cans of formula and stuff like that. Find it in your area.

3)Freepeats: Online community, one time fee, similar to that of Freecycle. People are just giving stuff away. Most of this is baby or child or maternity related, but it is still something.

4) Baby Cheapskate: These wonderful woman do so much work. And to catch the savings, go there every day. Great great site.

5)Cheap Stingy Bargins: Now, this just has everything. Just look. You can really get some good deals on stuff. This is a good one for Dad too. Electronics, cooking.. whatever... just go.

6) Freebies 4 Mom: Sample, coupons, and just some tips. This site it great. Really something to look at. Especially for moms.

7)Mom Finds: Another good one for mom. Let them do the work and you reap the benefits!

8) Money Saving Mom: Good one. I love these sites! But you really need to find the one you like the best, because sometimes you get repeat information.

9) Mommies With Cents: Good one.. and they give you ideas for stocking stuffers and Easter basket stuffers and such.

When you go to these sites, you can find links to even more money saving sites. Just grab a hold of your interests.
Happy hunting.

Going Cheap Friday

First, I am so sorry by the lack of posts, but bear with me.. I will come back more... right now just dealing with stuff and I have had a monster headache/migraine/whatever for like 4 straight days now. So bad poor J is getting up during the night to put a purse over the alarm clock because HOLY CRAP COULD THAT LIKE BE ANY BRIGHTER!!! PHOENIX, QUIT LICKING YOUR FEET, THE NOISE IS KILLING ME! I would blog when the kiddos sleep, but I have been napping too.

Back to the reason for today... saving money!

Ok, so J has been working hard at quitting smoking... and guess what people, he is doing great... he hasn't had a cigarette in days. So proud. Now, he wasn't a big smoker, but he was one.. about 1/2 a pack a day.. about 10 cigarettes a day for those who don't know.

Now he smoked Marlboro Lights. We were buying them at $34.55 a carton.
Here's the breakdown, 10 packs per carton, 20 cigarettes in a pack... $0.17 per cigarette.

Therefore, not smoking, J will save us $620.50 per year. Let's check that, $0.17 per cigarette, 10 cigarettes per day, 365 days per year.
(0.17)*(10)*(365) = $620.50 per year.

Running total: $160.20 for milk, $219.00 for yogurt, $121.68 for bread, $738.40 for diapers, $408.80 for lunchmeat, $620.50 for J cigs = $2,268.58

So so very proud of you J. Keep up the good work babe... tons of people rooting for you.

Going Cheap Friday

Sorry I missed last Friday... :( I am a bad bad blogger.
I hope you all are reading the comments... there are some great ideas in there too!

Ok.. lets talk lunchmeat.
We use on average about 4oz of lunchmeat of any sort a day. I am going to zero in on ham. But what I am going to talk about can work for Turkey, bologna or whatever.

Carl Budding brand - $0.79 for 2oz package = $0.40 an ounce (rounded up)
Schnucks brand think sliced (common sale) - 3, 9oz packs for $7.95, so = $0.29 an ounce.
Schnucks/Oscar Mayer (sale this week) - $3.29 for 16oz pack = $0.21 an ounce.
Kroger brand (common sale) - $2.19 for 10oz pack = $0.22 an ounce

find that large chuncks of ham and have the deli slice it.. they do it for free...
Schnucks/Maple River = 6.52 lbs for 12.97 = $0.12 an ounce. (approx. 1.99 a lb).

there are often times I see stuff on sale for $1.69 a lb, so keep your eyes out.
Lunchmeat can freeze.. just thaw it out with a couple of paper towels and a ziploc bag or tuperware.
So our family would eat a total of 1460 ounces a year.. Carl Budding versus purchasing the large ham and having it sliced is a difference of $408.80.


Running total: $160.20 for milk, $219.00 for yogurt, $121.68 for bread, $738.40 for diapers, 408.80 for lunchmeat = $1648.08

Going Cheap Friday

Diapers...

Now most everyone knows we use cloth diapers.. these to be specific. Now, I bought and have a total of 24 of these. I bought 2 of the 12 packs. That is a total of $385.80.

Now, when we did use disposable, all we ever used (besides what was given to us) were these. Now, lets just take what we would use right now, size 5. That is 160 diapers for $35.99, or $0.22 a diaper. If you use other brands, you will just have to determine your own cost savings.

Ok, I counted, between both boys, I go through on average, 14 diapers a day. (Give or take depending on what they ate the day before). So if I bought disposables and used them everyday, then I am spending $1,124.20 a year on diapers.

So if I use the cloth for just one year alone, I am saving $738.40.

Running total: $160.20 for milk, $219.00 for yogurt, $121.68 for bread, $738.40 for diapers = $1,239.28.

Going Cheap Friday

Let's discuss bread.
First, don't buy bread at the grocery store!! You will see why in my explaination of prices. And if you have the room and are comfortable with it, freeze loaves for the future.

Ok, down to the nitty gritty. We eat about a loaf a week in this house. So, about 52 loaves a year.
Wonderbread, Kroger = $2.59
Kroger brand, at Kroger on a typical sale = $1.00
Shnucks brand, at Schnucks on a typical sale = $1.00
Sunbeam bread store, average price = $0.75
Sunbeam bread store, sale price = 4 loaves, for $1.00, so $0.25
*You have to watch them to find the sale.

So if we switched from the Wonderbread at Kroger to the sale priced Sunbeam store, then we are saving a total of $121.68.

Keep your eye on bread stores! More than likely, grocery stores are buying from them in some form or fashion, makes sense they would be more expensive.

Running total: $160.20 for milk, $219.00 for yogurt, $121.68 for bread = $500.88

Give me some ideas before the weekend, and I will research it for next Friday.

Going Cheap Friday

Following up on last Friday.
I have figured out to search by demographic. I still need to follow up on Joye's find at Sam's. It sounds like a 2% milk price, but if it is whole, I doubt my budget would justify me having a Sam's and Costco card, but I do know people with a Sam's card. Christie lives in a different part of the city and said her Kroger had whole milk for $3.44. THANKS YOU ALL.. KEEP 'EM COMING IN.

Now, this week, we will focus on yogurt.
My kids eat tons of yogurt... I also put it in popsicle makers for a treat... so on a average day, my kids eat about 5 oz of yogurt each.
We have found the following:
Kirkland brand @ Costco= 96oz for $6.90 = $0.07 an ounce
Schnucks brand @ Schnucks= 6oz for $0.50 = $0.08 an ounce
Bluebunny brand @ Schnucks= 6oz for $0.60 = $0.10 an ounce
Activia @ Costco= 96oz for $10.35 = $0.11 an ounce, now sometimes a coupon for $3.00 off is available making it = $0.08 an ounce
Yoplait @ Kroger = 6oz for $0.80 = $0.13 an ounce, now sometimes they have a sale at 6oz for $0.50 = $0.08 an ounce.

So obviously, just because you have a coupon doesn't make it better than any other.

So, for us, going through 10oz a day total, the difference between Yoplait @ Kroger versus the Kirkland brand at Costco, we will save a total amount of $219.00 a year. LETS CHECK MY MATH BECAUSE HOLY CRAP... lets see, differnce is $0.06 an ounce, with 10 ounces a day, 365 days a year... YEP.. $219.00.

Running total: $160.20 for milk, $219.00 for yogurt = $379.20.

Got any more deals out there???

Going Cheap Friday

Ok.. so we are finding every single possible way to reduce our grocery bill. I have started a spreadsheet that tracks how much things at certain stores cost with and without a coupon... by the unit of said item.

First off is milk... whole is more expensive than 2%
(which I totally don't get.. I mean, 100 cigarettes are longer than regular cigarettes but they cost the same.. why can it be the same way)..

Anyways, we use whole because I am tired of getting jumped on by the pedi because my kids all of a sudden don't gain weight.
Cheapest I have found.. if you find something cheaper or have something to add in this area, please, please let me know.

Costco on G'town Rd. = $3.49 per gallon
Shell on Highland Rd. = $3.49 per gallon
McLemore Market on Houston Levee and Canada Rd. = $3.59 per gallon
Kroger Hwy 64 = $3.99 per gallon
Walgreens on Houston Levee and Canada Rd. = $3.99 per gallon
Schnucks on Hwy 64 = $4.08 per gallon.

The difference (for us.. we go through about 15 gallons a month of milk) between Costco and Schnucks is about $106.20 a year.

Without a sale or coupon, does anyone know where to get milk cheaper than $3.49??