This Mom is Thrifty!
Aug 10 '01
The Bottom Line The entire family should be aware of finances. A family working together makes budgeting easier.
I am not ashamed to say that I am a cheap mom. Cheap meaning all those nice words, we are supposed to use as ladies such as, inexpensive, not so pricy, within reason and my favorite geared for families. All these boil down to CHEAP, penny pinching, squeeze the blood out of turnip cheap.
What I do the first of the month.
I sit with all my bills in front of me, throw them up in the air and the one that fall face up gets paid. Now seriously, in a perfect world that would be grand, but in reality it cannot happen.
The bills have to be paid. It has become so routine I know how much the bill is before I open it and I account for it accordingly. Once I have them all opened and ready to be paid, I know how much I have left to spend on needed items.
Needs vs. Wants
Often you have a much longer want list than a need list. The wants can wait. You need, food, clothing and personal items that are used on a regular basis in your home.
Your wants are secondary in a budget, if the budget allows for it then you get it. If not, you learn to compromise. I have even learned to compromise on the groceries. Don't go ewww, and you can survive on second names rather than brand names. If you can cook, you can create a meal out of darn near anything.
How to pick your stores.
Picking stores, I love this one. We have several stores in our area that are very inexpensive. The Dollar Store is where I buy my staples from. Staple food that is, such as canned foods, spices, toothpaste, OTC meds and cleaning supplies.
Canned veggies are always three for a dollar, two pounds of rice for a dollar, tuna two for a dollar, and I could go on and on. Spices that I use on a regular basis are also two for a dollar. You may not have this store in your area, but there is one comparable I am sure running through your mind now.
Allot of these items is a brand name, so do not let the store title throw you. I buy the jumbo liquid Gain (for the girls), and Tide (for the boys) at a mere five bucks a jug.
Since they do not sell any fresh fruits, or veggies, or meats, I go to Marc's discount drug store. Yes a drug store, go figure. I can tell you the price of everything in the store. They have a variety of fresh fruits and veggies. I can buy a bag of "Biggins" potatoes, ten pounds of them for get this, hold your panties 98 cents! Exotic fruits such as Mangos, five for two dollars. Our family, having some ethnic tastes enjoy Plantains. The store did not carry them, and the thought of a two-hour ride to get them meant we would not have them. I talked with the produce "dude," and he ordered them for us. Once I started buying them, people were asking me what do you do with those. I told them, now the manager makes sure there are a great deal for us and I get a discount on them! I could go on and on, aisle after aisle but this is where I save my money.
Other stores such as Dollar Zone, Dollar Tree and Dollarama also help me to decorate and maintain my home in a nice fashionly manner. It does not look cheap, nor does it feel cheap. I am simply thrifty.
Learn to improvise
Do you need to stretch that beef stew a bit? Add a can of mixed veggies, then put it in a baking pan, stir up a box of bisquick biscuit mix and dollop it on top, bake for twenty-five minutes and you have a hearty meal.
Having chili and the kids invite a couple friends? Add a can of red kidney beans, a can of corn, mix a box of jiffy cornbread mix, dollop it on top throw it in the oven for twenty minutes. Again you have a hearty meal enough for all to enjoy.
Discount clothing stores
We have Gabriel's here, and I can buy a pair of Route 66 jeans for my girls at a mere seven dollars a pair. They come in all sizes and colors. My sons like Lugz and Fubu clothes, a pair of Lugz cost me ten bucks, Fubu shirts cost me four bucks.
School Supplies
Since school is starting soon, I am done with all the shopping. Why and how ? It is easy, during the year when a sale hits I pick up a few things. Single subject notebooks when they were seventeen cents a piece. I picked up twenty at a time, same with three subject and five subjects. I have brand name Five Star notebooks that normally run $4-7 dollars each for 99 cents.
I have a supply closet full of things that I am sure will last them the next two years. Every time I have a few extra dollars I pick up something that is on sale and keep that closet stocked.
Involve the kids.
My kids do know how hard it is to budget, and they realize not all things are readily available. WE set a time table. They are each in a different sport or club and need supplies for each. We set up old mayo bottles with a hole in the top. Each child's name is on that bottle. When I come in from shopping whatever is left in my pocket is split and saved in those bottles all year round. By doing that we have saved enough for a new Sax, reeds and cleaning supplies. My daughter is currently out now buying her gloves, cheerleading undies, socks, shoes and poncho for the up coming game. Last month we were able to get all the art supplies for my oldest, her easel was in dire need of replacement, new supplies and brushes are all done. Next is my eldest son who is into cars and wants some metric set of some God awful thing I have no clue what it is, and a torch wrench.
Is it healthy for kids to know?
Yes, it is healthy and important for them to realize what is going on with the finances. To hide it from them only leads to their disappointment and you pulling out hair trying to please them. I feel it also teaches them how to budget as they grow into adults.
Thanks for reading
B
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