Low-Budget Secrets
 

Hey guys,

As many of you know I am a student, so finances are tight. I am on unemployment as well, but still have a house to run off of what used to be a full time salary. We all know this diet can be expensive with the fresh produce, meat, etc. all the time.

Any tips, secrets, etc??

(**I haven't been on here in a while so if someone else posted something along these lines, I apologize.)

I hear ya, our grocery bill has quadroupled! It's hard to find the money sometimes so I rely on what's in stock at the house when $$ is tight.

Stock up on stuff you can freeze or doesn't spoil when it's on sale.

My grocery store has "brown bag" day. You go in and fill the the bag w/ meat & the entire bag is 10% off.

Go to the grocery store more often - a couple of times a week. Only buying what you've run out of, especially produce. I only let myself buy what I actually know I will eat in the next couple of days.

Find cheap subsitutes for the LAWL products: I buy the 100 calorie snacks for a starch, SlimFast High Protein shakes for 1 protein + 1 starch.

I use frozen meals every day for lunch at work. I buy whatever is on sale that week, usually like 3 for $5 or something. And I stock up on my faves when they are on sale.

Frozen fruit has been a recent find for me. I was spending tons of money on fresh fruit that wasn't even that good b/c it was out of season here. I use the frozen fruit in my smoothies, especially strawberries and blueberries.

I'm going to try frozen vegtables next.

Thanks Jill!

Two words- frozen raspberries! Yum!!! and easy I wait till they are on sale and stock up. Great on the sugar free fat free dannon yogurt.

If I see chicken on sale in a flyer I'll go and stock up. I recently started doing this and it makes a big difference. Meat can be so expensive.

Also, what about making veggie soups? They're a good snack that is filling and healthy.

Amy.........do you have an Aldi near you?

Costco and a small (really cheap) chest freezer in my apartment garage have been the best money savers. I can buy bags of frozen veggies and fruits, chicken breast, etc. I spent about $150 for the freezer and it has already paid for itself. Doesn't work for everyone because of space for the freezer but it has been a life-saver for me.

Nicole- I do have an Aldi. I have this (misconcieved I am sure) notion that it's food sold after the expiration date, etc. so I never go there.

I also need to start frequenting Produce Junctions....

Aldi is fantastic, and no the food isn't sold past it's expiration date. They just can sell stuff cheaper because they limit the number of brands they sell, don't spend much on advertising, don't do fancy displays, and you have to bring or buy your own bags (a few cents for paper and a few more for heavy plastic tote bags).

Except for lettuce, onions, potatoes and a few others, the produce isn't always cheaper than larger grocery stores, and the selection can be very limited.

The quality of the products are excellent. In fact, the store has a double money back guarantee, if you're not satisfied with a product for any reason. Once we took back a mustard because the safety seal was broken, and we just wanted an exchange and they gave us two-fer.

I used to feel the same way. It is a real store...not like big lots or the dollar store :)


Wanna know a secret? Aldi is a German store. It is one of the few successful German companies here in the U.S. Many of the foods you can find there are German. When we went to Germany last fall.......our guide told us that Walmart failed in Germany becuase of Aldi. It is their main grocery store there.....and we all know how the German's are known for their quality products. Also, our guide now lives in the U.S. and he told us he shops there because they have German products.

I totally agree with what Kaplods has said. And, I too, never used to go there.....but then they built a brand new one.....and it is the closest grocery store to my house.....so I was somewhat forced by convenience to go there.

You can't buy everything you need there....but here a few things I ALWAYS buy there, and as a matter of fact, will now make a special trip there for:

Fit and Active Frozen Strawberries
Fit and Active low fat vanilla yogurt
Bananas
these three with a bit of splenda and some crushed ice and splenda make a fabulous smoothie :)

Fit and Active mini rice cakes
Any cold cereal
Any type of snack crackers, including saltines
Any frozen vegeatbles
Milk
Butter
sour cream
Eggs
Sugar and other basic baking supplies
In season produce

I am not a fan of their cheeses, but I am from Wisconsin...so I hold my cheese to a high standard.

I also tend to go there during daytime, as it is way less busy. I get to shop with all the other Grandmas :lol: I used to have a negative feeling about it too......until my Germany trip.....and until they built one near my home....and until I started seeing my receipts. Groceries are sooo expensive right now. Everyone likes to save money:)
XOXO

While it can be tough to diet on a budget, you should also do some quick math to figure out how much you used to spend on crap food like take out and fast food..

The problem with the frozen meals and the 100 cal. packs are the ingredients.. Sure, they may be lower in fat or calories, but what are they high in? Sodium? preservatives? You gotta be careful.

Buying in bulk has been the easiest for us.. Wally Mart has bags of frozen chicken breast that keeps well, and costs less than buying the typical packages of 4 breasts on the meat shelf. The frozen fruits are a great idea too..

I'm a Costco fan too. I buy pork tenderloin and chicken in the bulk pack and then come home and portion and label. I also try to stock up on fresh fruit when it goes on sale and then spread on a cookie sheet and freeze it and put it in baggies to use for my smoothies. Applesauce and yogurt are my 'treats' and I also look for whole wheat pitas or wraps on sale.
The biggest thing that helped me save was preplanning my meals. I keep a sort of pantry list on my freezer and then try to find recipes using up the foods I have in there. I make my grocery list from that and I find that way I only have to go grocery shopping for the few fresh items I need and don't buy things I don't really need that are impulse buys.

Hmm.... thanks guys! As much as it's an effort, planning is always the answer!

KRISTEN!!!!!!! :hug: So good to see you!!!! I was pleading for your appearance the other day :) How is everything???
XOXO

I, too, have never been to Aldi. They just built a brand new one here in town so maybe I'll have to check them out. When I look at their ads they seem to be very reasonable on their prices. If they weren't so far out of my way I would probably go there for certain items. Thanks for the heads up on them.

We have Winco here, and they sound similar to Aldi. I do a lot of these same things. I have also started making my own laundry soap (1 cent per load), dishwasher soap (about 1/2 cent per load), dryer sheets (basically free) and dog food (I have been spending about $120.00 per month of dog food, the homemade costs me about $50.00, and is tons better for the dogs). I started making it all because I am concerned about the toxic load of this kind of stuff, but I am amazed at how much $ I have been saving. Plus it all works great!

Also, I make my own bread and butter. I pack my kid's lunches for school, and I have started buying the old fashioned oats and cooking up a big pan of oatmeal for my kids and daycare kids every day for breakfast. It is a lot cheaper than boxed cereals, and tons more healthy.

Ok Katie........will you share your recipes for laundry soap and dishwasher soap? I spend A LOT of money on these two items alone. It seems like we spend about twice as much as most families on these supplies....but you probably do too because of the daycare :) So......what's your secret? Isn't this just one of the wonderful perks of being home during the day? I bet the kids just love helping you too!!!
XOXO

Nicole- Sure. They are both really easy. It only takes a few minutes to make them.

Laundry soap-

1 bar of pure white soap, like Ivory or Fels Naptha

3/4 cup Arm and Hammer Washing Soda (This is not baking soda, they are different. If your store has it, it will be in the laundry isle. I had to order mine from Ebay, but I live in a really small town.)

3/4 C 7 Mule Team Borax (Also in the laundry isle)

40 Drops of an essential oil. I like lavender or a citrus a lot for laundry.

Instructions: Grate the soap into a saucepan, add 6 cups of water, and heat until soap has melted. Add borax and washing soda, still until dissolved. Pour into a clean bucket, add 1 gallon plus 10 cups of warm water, also add essential oil. Stir well, transfer to containers. I use 2 one gallon juice bottles. Just be sure to label your bottles well so that no one tries to drink it. Let it sit over night, and it should be ready to use. It will turn into a thin gel. Shake the bottle well before use. Use 1/2 to 3/4 of a cup per load of laundry. If you are washing something especially filthy or yucky, you can use a little more, or add a scoop of oxyclean.

Dishwasher soap-
In a plastic container with a lid add:

1 cup 7 Mule Team Borax
1 cup Baking Soda
1/2 cup salt
1/4 cup Pure Lemon powder or 2 packets of unsweetened lemon koolaide
30 drops of essentail oils (Citrus work well for this, as does tea tree or eucalyptus)

Place lid on tightly, shake until well mixed. Run an empty dishwasher with it first so that you don't get grime on your dishes. This stuff seems to clean out the dishwasher of old gunk. Just put a tablespoon in each cup. If your water is really hard and your dishes come out with any film on them, add 1 cup of white vinegar into the rinse cycle. I also use this in place of Ajax to scrub out the sinks and toilets. Works really well.

Just a note: These recipes are both way better for the environment and our bodies, but borax is still poisonous if taken internally, so keep them up away from kids just like you would any other cleaning supply.

Oh, I also wanted to add that you can buy sets of essential oils on ebay for much less money than at the store.

Dryer Sheets- Essential oils can also be used to make a dryer sheet by placing a few drops on an old rag and pinning a big safety pin to it. The pin helps with the static, and the oil makes your clothes smell really good. I use the same rag over and over until I can't smell the oil when the dryer runs, then add some more oils.

Air freshener- Use an spray bottle with a fine mist, mix water with 10 or so drops of an essential oil to make a nice room or linen spray without the chemicals.

Katie.....I am going to go on ebay right now to look for the essential oils :) Do you know of one in particular that has a nice outdoor or rainy kind of scent? I am soooo excited. My sis is comming this weekend, and she has no idea that she is going to help me make laundry soap and dishsoap!!! Acutally, my brother and SIL are comming too, and they also have 5 kdis.....so maybe we will do it together and split it to try :) Thank you again!!!!
XOXO

Also......I have this old time hardware store really close to me that will probably have the washing soda....they have everything from hog rings to tankless hot water heaters :) I will try to go check it out tomorrow!
XOXO
P.S. I hope you are starting to feel a bit better :hug:

Hi. I'm not on this plan but saw this post. Look into AngelFoodMinistries.com. It's just low priced meats and other foods. You pay once a month and pick it up once a month. My freezer has never stayed so full. Well worth the money. About 30.00 a box, a big box of food. May come with some things you aren't allowed on your plan but you can give that away! Still worth the money. I don't work for them or anything, but they do help others so supporting it is a good thing too. :)

Maybe I should post something about them on the regular board too. When I get a minute I might do that!

Have a great day!!
Selina

very cool......thanks, Selina....and join us anytime :)

wow... I think I just swill our money on all sorts of things, like laundry detergent and air freshener. Don't tell my DH!!!!! You are all so thrifty.

I do go to costco and winco... but albertsons is only like 5 blocks from my house, so I go there a lot too.

Ok Katie... WOW. You're amazing. That gets the mom-of-the-year award!

Thanks you guys. I do get a lot of enjoyment out of working with my hands, making stuff. It is very grounding to me.

Nicole- You know, I use tons of lavender, lemon, chammomile, and eucalyptus. Also the tree ones like pine are a nice, outdoors scent. I ordered a new set that will be here tomorrow. If I smell one that really jumps out at me, I will tell you. I am feeling a little better. Last night I layed in bed a cried for a long time, then a really warm, safe feeling came over me. It felt like I was getting a reiki treatment. I am not sure if one of my sisters was doing distance work on me at that time, or if it was something else, but I fell asleep feeling really good, and I woke up feeling better this morning.

oh, good. I just ordered juniper and spring rain. I think I may have ordered another one too.......I'll have to wait till they send me the bill....lol.

Oh fun. I'll have to try making the laundry soap for sure. My DH will think I'm nuts (at least until I tell him it will save us money)!!

:lol: isn't that the truth!!! It is good to see you, Dawn. How's everything going?

I always shop sales. I bring meats home and wrap and freeze portions immediately. I don't use coupons so much anymore, because I have discovered a lot of store brands that are good. I also found that my local health store and vegetable markets have wonderful deals on fresh vegetables. I buy my bars from ebay. I even got a case of a dozen Fast Forward bottles for just a little over $100.00 on ebay. If you are not afraid to ask questions and insist on fresh bars and other products, ebay is a great way to go.

A great tip---I found that I missed cooking with tomatoes. Both Kroger and Wal-mart sell cans of no-salt-added tomatoes that you can use to make program-friendly chili and other dishes. They are very reasonably priced. You can also get a large bag of Uncle Ben's brown rice for a little over $2.00 at Wal-mart.

Good luck to you! And remember that this healthy food costs a lot less that the sodas, chips, ice cream and other garbage we all used to eat.

Nicole, I’m good, thanks for asking! I finally went back to my COD 2 weeks ago so now I’m on the right plan and starting to make a little progress. I think I finally got my head wrapped around this weight loss once again (at least I hope so). It does feel good to be POP and see some results!

Thanks for all the ideas guys! I have to say it seems a little harder when you're on your own. I live by myself, so it seems so expensive. I know in the end compared to what I used to buy it isn't....

I guess things just spoil faster. I can't eat the produce fast enough!

I have the same problem, Jersey!!! I live with a roommate, but we buy our own food, so it's hard to buy food that's healthy for me, especially with the prices going up! Yikes!

Home made shower cleaner
 

Nicole and all,

I have another money saving tip for a cleaner. I saw it on the Cheapskate monthly website (www.cheapskatemonthly.com). You take an old spray bottle and fill it 1/4 full with the original blue Dawn dish soap, then fill it the rest of the way with white vinegar. Shake it up, then spray on your tub and shower. Leave on for up to an hour, depending on amount of grime, and wipe with a cloth and rinse. Works great and doesn't rip your lungs apart. I usually spray it on after my shower then go have breakfast and come back and finish it up.

There are a lot of great tips on her website. You can sign up for emails from her also.

Good luck on your soap making adventures.

Lolene