Thrifty Thursday

Okay, this may be the thriftiest of all my Thrifty Nifties...  Like, super thrifty/frugal. 

1.  Don't use a full dryer sheet in the dryer.  I tear mine in half, and only use one half at a time.  Totally works.  My mom taught me this one. 

2.  Wash your windows with newspapers.  Save your paper towels.  Spray your window cleaner - scrub with your newspaper!  This is what we did as kids, and I just started doing it again so I wouldn't have to use my pricey paper towels.  When I was first married I used to buy them on sale for less than 50 cents a roll... Every now and then, WITH a coupon I can get them to about 50 cents a roll.... 

3.  My Grandma once asked me if I washed out and reused my zip lock bags.  I, of course told her no, and she replied with, "Well, that's why you're poor..."  Yes, that's my Grandma.  But, Grandma would be proud to know that I have started washing out my zip lock bags.  Why was I throwing them away again when they were only a home to some bread??????   Look, how green I've become...  My husband on the other hand is not so excited to be washing out plastic bags...  He's not very excited about being green, and based on Grandma's standards he also likes being poor.  :)

Do you have some more Thrifty Nifties for me? Please share!

Thrifty Thursday

Here are my Thrifty Nifties today:

1 - On Sunday, I discovered something amazing...  maybe you already discovered it, and maybe you should have shared that idea with me, say, oh, four years ago?? 

I was picking out Mallary's tights for church, and I found a good pair (meaning no picks, nubbies, fuzzies, you know what I mean...), and then realized they were wrong side out.  The right side, however was filled with all of the above.  So, you guessed it Mallary just wore her tights wrong side out, JUST LIKE NEW! 

Big deal?  You've already been doing that?  Well, I thought it was brilliant, and why hadn't I thought about it before!?!?!  Usually I just toss them or save them to cut up to use to tie up my tomato plants in the summer.  (That's right, TWO thrifty nifties in one!  Use your torn up panty hose and tights to help stake your tomato plants.)

2 - Don't be afraid of Dry Clean only or Hand Wash.  On Monday, I saved at least 25 bucks washing some stuff I had been saving to take to the dry cleaners.  I don't know why I waited so long to wash it myself...  I worked at a dry cleaners as a teenager and learned a few things about labels and dry cleaning.  A company can only put one label on your clothes, so they are going to choose what might be safer for the complete silly person out there that would put wool in the dryer (not intending to make felt mind you), which is by default, dry clean only. 

Hand wash - For example, if a clothing item says this, my sister won't buy it.  Half of my clothes I bought last year are hand wash only, but you won't ever catch me hand washing anything...  Take advantage of your washers hand wash setting! (Usually that item needs to be air dried though)  I've never had a problem.  I know people throw away dirty baby toys.  Who's going to hand wash those? Not me!  Throw them in the washer!

Dry Clean - The trick is to look at the material and use common sense.  Is it mostly cotton?  Wash it in cold - to be safe, just don't dry it (in case it has a lining then the cotton will shrink, but the lining won't, making your item of clothing uneven).  Just don't wash silk.  The only time I've been burned actually, because I didn't look at the tag.  I thought it was some kind of washable taffeta.  Men's ties?  I've washed TONS of these.  Obviously don't wash the pure silk ones, but you have to wash these on delicate, so they don't get beat up in the washer.  Maybe toss them in the dryer for a few minutes, then hang to dry the rest of the way. 

Most likely, half the clothes you dry clean you can wash in your washer. 


Now, maybe with the money you saved on not having to buy new tights and not dry cleaning you can go catch a movie!  Or come visit me!!    :)

Thrifty Thursday

Before, I get into this weeks deals and steals, have you started your Christmas shopping???  Here's my thrifty nifty that can benefit you for years to come:

Shop for Christmas ALL YEAR LONG!

For real. 

That's no fun, you might say, but it really is - and then November through December are a little less stressful.  I promise. 

Here's the thing.  There are some staples that I can shop for that I know my kids will be getting every year at Christmas - like pajamas.  So, all the pajamas have been purchased.  In fact, Jonah's pajamas were purchased last year in February for like 3 bucks!  Gotta love Old Navy clearance!  (I've told you my rule on not spending over 5 bucks on pajamas right?  Don't spend more than 5 bucks on jammies!!!  I promise, it's do-able.  I do it all the time!!!  I just bought Mallary's princess jammies at Kohl's.  I had a 10 dollar coupon off any purchase, plus an extra 15% off, and the pajamas were half off already - so I payed 5 dollars for her 35 dollar jammies.  Score!)

Also, end of season clearance at all stores provide the best stocking stuffers!  TJ Maxx, Marshalls, Old Navy, and The Children's Place have the best end of season clearance items.  Let's just say Santa already has some stockings stuffed...  Woo hoo!

Also, Ross Dress for Less carries a lot of the same stuff that you will be buying at WalMart and Target for HALF THE PRICE.  Last year, we scored Star Wars, Transformer, and Lego stuff there at half the price I saw it for at the major stores. 

Last but not least, DO NOT PAY FOR ANYTHING FULL PRICE!  It's kind of my rule.  (Except at Marshalls, TJ Maxx, Ross, or other discount stores where the price is rock bottom anyway.)  Anything I have bought online lately, I google for a coupon, and I have lucked out every time!  At Kohls online, I found these forty dollar shoes that they didn't have in the stores, after some discounts and googling for a coupon, I got them for 13 bucks including shipping!

Anyway, moral of the story - you can get great deals without even working hard.  AND save lots of money Christmas shopping all year around instead of forking out all the money in one month! 

So, because those tips were so long here is my shopping list this week:

Super double coupons at Harris Teeter this week!  Shop away!

Thrifty Thursday

Nothing too exciting at the grocery stores this week except 93% lean ground beef at Harris Teeter for $2.99/lb.  I already stocked up. 

So, I thought I would share another little thrifty nifty with you.  My friend, Jen, tipped me off on this one!  She blogged about finding jeans at WAL-MART!  That's right, Wal-mart!  So, back in the spring, on a Wal-mart trip I stopped and tried on some jeans - and they were great! 

I just went back last week and got two new pairs (because I'm finally down a size!  yay!)! 

Here's the skinny:  They are Faded Glory Jeans - $13.88.  Yep, you read that right.... THIRTEEN DOLLARS AND EIGHTY EIGHT CENTS!!!!!!  They have the perfect amount of stretch, the perfect length, which is hard for me to find (they have lots of lengths to choose from), and I think they make my butt look good.  Come on, you know that's important to you too! They also have jeggings in case you are interested.   I think I'll check out all of their jeans for the whole family!  They have some really cute washes. 

I also tried on some Levi's while I was there - and they fit good too!!  They even come up a little higher which is good for my post baby belly!  They are a little bit more expensive, but still super cheap for jeans! 

Anyway, I was super impressed, I think you will be too!  Thanks Jen!!

Thrifty Thursday

There really aren't a whole lot of screaming deals this week - but here are a few deals on my staples. 

Food Lion

Green Peppers  - 2/$1

Lowes Food

Boneless/Skinless chix. breast - 1.77/lb
Seedless red grapes - 1.47/lb (I usually only buy grapes when they are $.99/lb, but this is good too... I know, I'm hard core...)
Bounty Basic Paper Towels - 8 roll - $5.49

Harris Teeter

Sweet Potatoes - $.79/lb
Angel Soft - EVIC 2/$10 limit 2

I know there are a lot of coupons out there, but I haven't bought a paper in quite some time - but if you have coupons there are some other deals on laundry deteregent and such. 

And, you know you could always price match these prices at Wal-Mart - even though I don't do that anymore, just because I don't go there as often as I used to...

On slow sale weeks like this I really save on my grocery budget!!

Happy shopping!

Thrifty Thursday

I have people say that they wish I would do their grocery shopping for them all the time!!  Or they ask if they could follow me around, or just copy my grocery list.  So, here it is people. 

On Thursdays I will give you a list of a few of the deals I plan on picking up this week (or technically, I do my grocery shopping on Wednesdays, so I'll give you a list of what I already picked up!)  These are all things I use, I don't just buy them because they are on sale. 

Here's my grocery list lingo (how I actually write it down, if I do, usually I print it up):

• I always put the brand if it's store brand, I abbreviate it (HT = Harris Teeter)
• To say Buy something get something free I use B1G1F or whatever the numbers are
• To say 2 for $5 I write 2/$5

Harris Teeter

• HT Black Beans - 2/$1  (sometimes you can get these at grocery stores for .33 cents a can, but if they go on sale for .50 I usually buy some too.  I don't pay more than .57 a can for any beans.)
• Northland Juice - B2G3F
• Certain Kellog's Cereals - 1.97 each (EVIC Limit 4) (Plus $1 off coupon for this)
• Boars Head Trio Special from the deli - 1/2 lb turkey, 1/2 lb ham, 1/2 lb American cheese - all for 9.99 (this is a super good deal, usually the meat and cheese by themselves is 9.99/lb!!)

Food Lion

• All Laundry Detergent - 2.99 (I don't spend more than $3 for detergent anymore - I buy all major brands and just buy it on sale and with a coupon)
• Tangerines - 2.99/3lb bag
• Red potatoes - 2.99/5lb bag
• Bird's Eye Steamfresh Vegetables - 10/$10 (I always stock up when they are this much!)

So, we just got a BJ's near us!  We have a Sam's Club membership, but it is farther away, and it expires next month.  I went to BJ's yesterday and found these deals:

• Milk - 2.35!!!!!! (no artifical growth hormones added) (for all you westerners that pay less, I don't want to hear about it - usually the regular price here is about 3.99)
• 3 dozen eggs - less than 4 bucks!  great!
• GAS IS CHEAPER THERE!  YAY!!

Random Tips in case you didn't know...

• Don't throw away your expired coupons!  Sometimes they work!  I tried it yesterday, and it had already expired and saved a dollar! 
• When there is a sale for example 10/$10  - you don't have to buy 10 to get the sale!  I have random people asking me that question in the grocery store all the time. 
• When an item is B1G1F - you don't have to get two to get the deal.  They just charge you half the price for one item. 

If I could do your grocery shopping for you, I would... (maybe I should start a business...)  But, this is the next best thing!  Feel free to share some other deals you find with me!

Happy Shopping!

Thrifty Thursday

Santa put these fun slippers in Mallary's stocking. There's some here, but Santa told me he got them at TJ Maxx for half the price! That Santa is such a good shopper!

Well, I've been coveting her slippers, and I wanted a pair of my own Muk Luks! I found some at Target (knock off brand Lukees) for 4.95! It took three different Targets to find my size, but I did! You can buy them online at Target, but they are still 20 bucks there. Sorry. But, they carry really cute Muk Luks too! Just for more money... 4.95 was more in my budget.

Have you noticed the price of groceries are more? I get my deli meat sliced at the deli, and it used to go on sale to 5.99 a pound. Well, it hasn't gone to 5.99 a pound since well before Christmas. It now consistently goes on sale for 6.99 a pound. I know it's only a dollar - but a dollar is a dollar! Fruit has also been more expensive, and you used to be able to buy vegetables for cheaper too! Everything's going up my friends!

But, at least I got my slippers!

Thrifty Thursday

I should title this post; Loyal No More

I used to be a strictly Tide user, (I never used to have to pre-treat stuff, or scrub stuff before hand, I was a firm believer that Tide could get ANYTHING out) but about the same time we moved to a house with hard water, Tide switched to the concentrated stuff, and it doesn't clean like it used to. Maybe it doesn't work well with hard water, I don't know, but I don't buy Tide religiously anymore. I buy whatever I can get for the cheapest price, and I haven't noticed a difference in my laundry at all. Why pay more for something that I'm not getting results from???

I was also an Enfamil baby formula user as well... but this year, I'm trying to be a little more frugal, and did you know that the Parent's Choice baby formula from Wal-Mart is half - yes, HALF the price of Enfamil??? (Formula is not cheap people) I was a nervous to buy it, because I bought the Nestle brand once when Trevan was a baby to try and save a few bucks, and he wouldn't drink it to save his life! But, Jonah didn't seem to mind the switch at all! Thank goodness! HALF the price, you really can't beat that! Loyal to Enfamil no more. Every time I make a bottle I think of all the money I'm saving!!

Recently, in the mail we got one of those free samples of the Consumer Report magazine. I've never been so tempted to want to sign up for a magazine before. What fabulous tips to read! It tells you stuff like which washers or refrigerators performed best in tests, etc. It mentioned that you could save a lot of money by buying store brands, and how some store brands are made by national-brand companies. Then I remembered when I was younger and I went to a dairy on a field trip and they showed us that they produce milk with their own label AND for store brands as well; they just change the labels. So, expensive milk you buy could very well be the same exact milk on the shelf below it with a different label, and a lower price tag. I will never forget learning that on the field trip with the guy showing us the different labels.

So, the moral of the story, don't be afraid of different brands to save you some money!!

Thrifty Thursday

This may have been my cheapest shopping trip to Old Navy ever. I'm telling you, that Gap card can save you some money...

I purchased all the above (three pairs of pajamas, one pair of shorts, and two shirts) for...

drum roll please...

71 cents!!

That was not a typo. Seventy one CENTS!

And, that, is how I roll.

Thrifty Thursday

When I hear people checking out at Gap and turning down an offer to get a Gap credit card, I want to say, "Get it, you won't be sorry!"

I love my Gap card. I admit it, I do. I never pay full price for anything at Gap or Old Navy. No need to, because there is always a deal, promotions like half off clearance prices, and reward credits for me to use! Love it.

Guess how much I paid for everything in the picture below?

$3.97!

That's it! Under four dollars for two rolls of wrapping paper, one outfit, and one pair of pajamas! SCORE!

Thrifty Thursday

You know I love a good bargain, and I love going to thrift stores, but not really to look at clothes. However, my sister, totally finds great stuff at Goodwill! Can you believe my sister bought her clothes from thrift stores when she was in high school, and she was voted best dressed?!?! I remember going shopping with her at the Salvation Army when I was younger, and literally digging through piles of clothes. Trust me, thrift stores have come a long way since then! People tell her all the time, "That's so cute! You need to take me shopping with you!" To which she says, "As long as you don't mind shopping at Goodwill!"

Shopping at thrift stores for clothes is just OVERWHELMING. I usually just walk down the aisle, and if I see a fabric or pattern I like I'll stop and pull it out. My sister finds great stuff though. I was with her when she found this dress for Mallary for $1.99. It's vintage and totally sweet.

You may laugh, but honestly, I think thrift stores are too expensive... With how I shop, I can find brand new items at regular stores for cheaper than I could buy the same thing used at Goodwill. For example, I got the below item at Kohl's for... wait for it... $1.83! Originally $24.00! $1.83 for a cap, booties, a bib, and pajamas!

So, take that, Goodwill!

Thrifty Thursday

I paid $2.75 for this outfit for Mallary at Target. Perfect for the playground.

I love end of season clearance!

It's super double coupons at Harris Teeter this week (they'll double coupons that are up to $1.99), if you have one of those close by you. A friend also sent out an email of another coupon blog you can check out here. (Thanks, Amy) I also signed up on coupons.com, and printed off some other good coupons.

Happy Savings!

Thrifty Thursday

While I was at my sisters house, I raided her recycle bin and stole her coupons. You know I just have to report my savings to you from this week.

Store Savings: $26.17
Savings using only 15 coupons: $34.39
Total Savings: $60.56
I paid: $41.07

Hello, without my savings and coupons my total grocery bill would have been over $100! Just so you know, that $41 paid for a buggy (cart) full of groceries, and because I save so much money on little items, I can indulge on some of my favorite luxury items and still come out at $41! And you know how I love my luxury food...

Here's a few websites for you that my friend uses to help her save money:

http://www.couponmom.com/

http://www.moneysavingmom.com/

http://www.thethriftymama.com/

http://kingdomklipper.blogspot.com/

Happy Savings!

Thrifty Thursday

It's double coupons at Harris Teeter up to $1.98 this week.
That's what I'm talking about!

So, I went yesterday:

Saved $21.55 using 12 coupons

Saved 49.56 in store savings (BIGIF's and 2fers)

Total savings of about $70!

Spent $64.

I save as much as I spend!

At the beginning of the month they had triple coupons, and here was one of my visits:

Saved $20.68 using 10 coupons

Saved, get this, $113.15 in store savings

Total savings of about $133!

Spent $133.20

The cashier had to call for a manager because I saved so much, she's like you saved A LOT of money.

Spending $133.20 may not seem like saving a lot of money, but I bought A TON of meat and got shrimp, AND my buggy (yes, it's a buggy) was completely full of other stuff too. Hello? My total would have been twice that!

Here's my method, written down to pass on from generation to generation. My mom taught me, (My dad is good at saving money too. When I told him about my recent savings, he tells me he went to the store last night and the cart total came up to $24 or something and he only spent $4.) I use her same method, but utilize the Internet instead of looking through the fliers. Though I will still do that on occasion, but it's rare.

First, I save coupons. Honestly, I'm not religious about it, but if I am thinking about it I will get a Sunday paper and cut the coupons, but only coupons for stuff I use. Some people spend more money in the long run because they stock up on things that they don't really need or use, and a lot of the coupons out there are for unhealthy food. I go grocery shopping and have coupons as a bonus, some people go to the store just to use coupons. Does that make any sense? It's the "Have coupons must use them" mentality. (Sometimes when I am at the grocery store and I have a coupon that will expire that day, (like save $5 on a purchase of $40 or more, some people would make sure to spend the $40, but I won't if I don't need anything else, or if there are no good sales, etc. I won't buy more just to get to the $40, ultimately making me spend more money.) or the next day and decide I won't be using it, I become the coupon fairy and start giving them to strangers shopping next to me, or in the check out line. That's always fun! I even sometimes when someone has picked up something and I know it's on a crazy good sale somewhere else, I'm the crazy lady that says, "Those are on sale for X amount at X store." I've always got a positive response. Just trying to do my duty as a money saving citizen... we're in a recession you know.)

Second, I buy sale items. Every week (Wednesday actually), I go online to the stores I shop at and view their weekly fliers and print off my shopping list just from what is on sale. I do that for all three grocery stores that I go to (and also compare those lists to some drug store prices). In the olden days I would take that (but the real fliers) and go to Wal-Mart and price match, but the Wal-Mart's here aren't as lenient as the one in Utah was, so I don't do it very often anymore. So, now I will go to all three stores (but, honestly I don't go to all three stores every week, actually not very often anymore. But, if the deals were good enough I would. FYI all stores are within 7 minutes from my house, so I am not running around far away.). I take all the shopping lists from every store with me into each of the stores I go to, so if I come across an unadvertised sale, I can compare it with what is on sale at the other store to see which price is better (or compare the meat per pound prices). Sometimes, I just take them with me to Wal-Mart to see if it is cheaper than Wal-Mart or not.

Third, I shop and cook from my pantry. Meaning, I stock up on items I use frequently when they are on sale, and try to cook my meals based on what I have in my freezer and pantry, only having to run out to get some of the fresh ingredients I don't already have. Though, I used to go a little crazy on this. Now, I try to stick within a grocery budget and only spend a certain amount so if I want to really stock up on something that is on sale, I have to cut something else off my list or just not buy as much.

So, my method isn't really anything new or grandiose, but it works. I learned by watching my mom. But now, if I were to die tomorrow my children will at least have my method written down to read. Heavens knows if they only have John's method to learn from they won't have any money, and they'll only be eating cereal, a sugary sweet cereal, and chocolate milk.

I love grocery shopping! I told John it won't matter if we are loaded one day, I will still shop the same. Seriously. It's all about the thrill of the hunt, and seeing your total savings at the bottom of that receipt.

Why pay more if you could pay less? (I'm sure that is from an advertisement somewhere)

Nifty Thrifty Thursday

Mission Accomplished: I have officially become like my mother.

My mother taught me to shop year end clearance sales. Now I share this wisdom with you. For my kids, I shop during the year end clearance sales for next year. Then the next year I just fill in the gaps from what I didn't purchase last year. Last week, I got out all of their clothes for this summer, took off the tags and washed them. (Needless to say Mallary's wardrobe this summer will be mainly from Old Navy) Do you see the prices on those tags? Well, that is not the price I paid (most of the time). I use my Gap card and purchase during the 20% off sales, Stuff and Save Sales, and usually every now and then they have the 50% off clearance prices. (and don't you worry, my Gap card has never ever not been paid off) So, yes. That is 20% off of 2.99. You can't even buy clothes that cheap at thrift stores, and cheaper than dear Target. Sure, they aren't wearing this seasons fashions, but who really cares? I think they are still very, very cute!!

You may be worried that you don't know what size your child will wear next year, but really you can guesstimate. You can judge how fast your child grows by how much they have grown already. Are they a size ahead right now? Most likely (not always) they will be a size ahead next year too. I have only been burned three times. That's pretty good considering I have two children, and Trevan turns five this year. That's a pretty good track record. But, I have gotten burned, three times I said, and here is the third.

I got home from Hawaii, and Mallary's feet had grown while I was gone. All of her shoes were too small. Well, last year I bought these cute shoes at Gymboree on sale for her to wear this year (shoes are admittedly a little trickier, that was burn number two as well) so I went to get them out thinking they would be perfect. (This is where I have turned into my mother) I tried them on Mallary's feet about two months ago, and they were still too big, so I put them back in her shoe rack, then totally forgot about them (my mother)! Of course, just my luck, the shoes were too small!!!! I was so mad at myself for forgetting about them!! But, now I will have a cute pair of unused shoes to pass on to the next baby girl I have, unless I forget about them then too... and I didn't mind having to go shopping to get her some new kicks...

Her new shoes are soo cute!!

Thrifty Thursday

My sister in law introduced me to this website.

http://www.moneysavingmom.com/



I thought I should share it, we're in a recession you know.

Nifty Thrifty Thursday

Who? Me? A shopaholic?

No...

Okay, guilty as charged.

But, it’s a genetic pre-disposition.

Seriously. No nature vs. nurture argument here.

Okay, maybe a little of both.

My mother loved to shop, and her mother loved to shop, and I’m not sure about her mother, but shopping is in our blood. Just ask my sisters or my dad. We can shop, and we do. (although, I have been A LOT better recently)

My mother trained me in the art of shopping when I was just a little girl (as I now train my children). I was one of her shopping buddies to Leggets (the only larger store we had growing up - it is now called Belk), and to Corning Revere (why my love of dishes started early). Mom taught me how to be a smart shopper. She was the Queen of bargain shopping, also Queen of the yard sale.

The last week my mom was in the hospital, she wasn't able to really communicate, and she stayed pretty sedated because of her pain. It was a Friday, and I leaned over close to her and said, "Mom, if you would just get better right now, I promise I will take you yard sale-ing all day tomorrow." I half expected her eyes to open, or for a smile to creep across her face. But, no such luck.

She went yard sale-ing even if she felt horrible, I think shopping is a therapy for us. She could have felt awful, but the moment she started yard sale-ing or stepped into a TJ Maxx, she would get a burst of energy. I am the same way. I could shop all day and not eat anything. When I was pregnant, I could go into a store exhausted, but get a second wind before I even hit the first rack. I was in labor with Trevan and didn't realize it while I was shopping with my mom. Every now and then I would have to sit down and rest, and mom would say, "maybe we should go home," and I would be like, "let's just stop into one more store..." We even got in the car to go home and we ended up at the mall...

We are shoppers. Luckily, though, my mother taught me how to be thrifty. I would consider my self a very smart shopper, and a thrifty person. So, I have decided that on Thursdays I will give a Nifty Thrifty Tip. Some of my tips, may not really be tips to you, but you can read along anyway.

Here is today's Nifty Thrifty tip:

(though not a new concept, but one way I save money)

I buy clothes a little bit bigger. Not for myself, but for my kids. For example, this outfit is a 2T, my daughter isn’t quite 18 months. Though the outfit is a little big, you can’t really tell. Right? (just say no) The tights are really supposed to be capris and the green top should hit above her knees, I think, but it still looks cute like this - and will fit her through the summer. Most of her and Trevan’s clothes are like that. Also, when Mallary outgrows her dresses, I then have her wear them as shirts with leggings. Of course, not every dress works like that, but a lot do. A few sundresses from last year will be cute flowy shirts this year. Viola!

And that, my friends, is just one way I stretch a dollar.