Saving Money

I did not realize how many people are trying to save money and writing about it.  Not to mention the many creative ways they are doing it.  I have spent the past two days reading about ways people have been saving money.  I am trying hard to cut corners as much as possible but it seems like it is getting increasingly difficult to do so but this is my contribution of the week.

1.  I went shopping.  Now, before you think how did that save money, let me explain.  I have a grandchild coming in May and we finally found out what it was so now I can start shopping.  My DIL found a crib set she wanted that was $189.99 plus shipping.  That is a lot of money to me.  So, we went to the thrift store.  There are two huge thrift stores about two hours from us.  I usually visit them twice a year.  Not only did I find a ton of clothes for the baby, I found a bumper pad and dust ruffle for the crib for $2.10.  A solid sheet and comforter will round it out perfectly.  I also found a beautiful purple jacket for $.74 and a skirt that matched it for $3.99. Both articles of clothing can be worn with other items in my closet.

2.  It has been rather warm for this time of year in my area.  In order to keep from turning the air on, I have been drying clothes at night when the temperatures have been much cooler.  This keeps us from having to turn on the air during the afternoon and evening hours.

3.  My chickens have finally started laying eggs!  We got four yesterday and I used them to make egg sandwiches for breakfast this morning.  We are having to use a light in the evenings for a bit to give them enough light to produce and it is working!  Yea!  I do not have to buy eggs this week at the store.

4.  I made a potato and ham soup last night.  I had bought the potatoes on sale two weeks ago and the ham was leftover from New Year's that I had frozen.  I boiled the ham bone for a bit to get some meat off of it and added it to my potato soup.  It was very good and very cheap!  I then boiled the ham bone some more to use the broth and the bone in a pot of great northern beans later this week.

5.  Today, I saw an advertisement at the local butcher shoppe for ground beef for $1.49 per pound.  That might not be cheap to some but here it has been running $2.99 a pound or higher.  I am getting about 10 pounds or more this evening on my way home from work, which will also knock out an extra trip to town this weekend! Yippee, two for one!  :)

6.  I bring my own lunches everyday to eliminate buying from the cafeteria.  I have my own coffee mug that I use in the morning and therefore save on coffee stops.  I have a double walled glass with a straw that I drink my water from.  This is a major accomplishment for me because I drink a LOT of soda each day and I am now down to one a day.  Drinks from a vending machine here run about $.75 a can.  I usually drink 3 cans of soda at work each day.  That's about $1.50 per day I am saving and even more if I bring the soda from home.

Sometimes it does not seem like I am doing much to save money but when I write down what I have done, I realize it is much more than I thought.  What are you doing to save money?

Peace,

Southern Ladye