My husband is changing jobs. How do I cut costs and live more frugally?

Question

I am a stay at home mom. Any good budgeting ideas. I am also looking for cheap meals/menus

Answer 1

Some people think clipping coupons is a good idea, and for some people it might be good, but what I have found is the products that have coupons are usually higher priced items anyway. My first suggestion is to find a discount grocer... we have Save-A-Lot and Aldi's in our area... they sell the basics at a lower cost. But a store brand is usally fine, ok there may be a stem in a green bean can, but I can deal with that.
watch sale ads, usually the same item goes on sale the same time of the month,
Turn back the thermostat on the water heater, take shorter showers, use only cold water in the washing machine.
cover your food when you are cooking, it speeds it up and takes less energy cooking.
teach the children ( if able to turn on and off ) to turn things off when they are finished, in other words, watch a tv program and then turn off the tv, don't leave it on all day.
In the winter, open shades when its sunny to get solar warming, make sure its snugged up closed at night.
Be creative with potatoes, look at ads and see what resturants do with them, you can make similar things that taste good. buy large bags they are a wonderful food.
Learn to cut hair- read the directions with a set that comes with clipers and sizzers. But if your husband's job depends on a neat hair cut and appearence, don't practice on him... learn on someone who can have a buzz if things go bad... lol.. My boys are grown and still call occasionally for a "Mom Hair Cut".
Try water and a little vinagar for cleaning insead of expensive cleaners.

Answer 2

you can save alot by figuring out how to prepare good meals cheap, especially if you bought alot of prepared food, and ate out.
Baked Zitti, fish, potatoes are cheap, burgers, any pasta is cheap, throw in some shrimp.
You can spend 6 dollors on 2-3 people for a great meal, instead of 15 per person.

Also shop at the 99 cent store, there are tons of things that you find that save you money later.

Have romantic dinner at home while renting a DVD with a bottle of wine, instead of going out to dinner, sometimes, that can be better and more intimate.
Have fun with it good luck, sis!

Answer 3

Okey Dokey, cutting costs is very easy, Wal-Mart brand everything is so much cheaper, and to believe it! It's actually healthier, so you kinda get two great deals in one! If you go to the Fish dept. in walmart and get some tilapia filets, all you need is some no stick fat free butter spray and slivered almonds, coat the pan with the spray, put in the fish, and garnish with the almonds, healthy and cheap, get some frozen veggies and microwave them, that's a full dinner for me! Good luck, I think you'll like Great Value better too.

Answer 4

What I do, that saves money for us . . . definately make a menu before you go shopping, then only get what you need for the meals. (of course also what you need for necessities) I find that when I make a list and stick to it, it saves me tons on groceries! Shop the sale racks, go through your budget and try to weed out anything that's unneccessary (I tried to weed out my husband's PS2 games, it didn't work!) :)
Good luck!

Answer 5

Check out refundcents dot com I love this site! Tons of information

Answer 6

COUPONS, THRIFT STORES, PLANNING LOW BUDGET OUTTINGS, RECYCLING ALUMINUM CANS, SHOPPING WITH A LIST, PLAN YOUR MEALS, CATCH SALES OR UTILIZE THE LAY AWAY PLANS.....

HELP HIM OUT BE MAYBE DOING A NEWSPAPER ROUTE OR BABY SITTING

Answer 7

I suggest you keep a track prices that are going up.

Answer 8

frugalliving.com