February 2009 Expecting Club

I cut down on my grocery bill, but by realizing how much extra I was cooking in a meal and then throwing out.  I would cook the whole package of chicken and would have 1 or 2 pieces left over, it would go in the fridge and not get eaten.  I now divide up all my meat, chicken, pork and cook smaller portions, this has saved me at least $20-$30 at the store.  Generic items can be iffy, I am actually disappointed because I hear that WIC is going to start only paying for generic cheese in Jan, and Wal Mart's cheese is pretty gross!  I too was spending way too much on my cell, I have stopped using it during the day except if it is a friend who has the same plan I do.  I heard cricket is cheap, but I have never used it.  I suggested to DH getting a land line and getting rid of the cells but would would be charged a early termination fee.  We do not have any TV, direct is too expensive (we did have it), cable is not offered, and bunny ears do not work.  I watch the shows I can online, but other then that it is $1 movies at the red box and those are getting fewer.  We have also cut back to using just one car, since my DH's truck is a gas guzzler.  Helps since I can't go anywhere to spend money :-)

I'm so sorry to hear you are laid off. I know how stressful that is. As far as coupons, you can save a ton. Try to find a store near you that will double them. Most double .50, but you can find some that will even double up to $1.00. When shopping check several stores for their front page deals. Those are usually the best deals. Sometimes fast food can be cheaper certain nights of the week then cooking. We do McDonald's night on Tuesdays since it's 1/2 price happy meals. Kentucky Fried Chicken also has meals on Tuesday that are $1.99. We like to keep track of restaurants that have kids eat free nights too.

We just switched or cell phone carrier. T-mobile now offers a flexpay monthly plan. You can get contract pricing services without the commitment of a contract. The way things are in Michigan, I don't want to be tied down to a contract anymore. They can also switch your phones over to their service.

There are deals everywhere so you don't have to eat generic food. Just have to look a little. I did cave and go to Walmart and found a lot of items I was buying at the grocery store are a lot cheaper there. For now I will shop there. My daughter gave me crap about shopping there, but I told her no one cared about how crappy the people were treated at my old job so why should I be concerned when I need to save some money.

Michelle

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade kiddiethingamajigs.etsy.com

The WIC where I live has always only paid for generic brands ...

Well, I will correct that, my paperwork says "Store declared cheapest brand" which happens to usually be the generic. I have generic cheese in the fridge from WIC and there is no difference that I can tell between it and other cheese.

The juice is canned juice, and also generic, needs to be watered down a bit more, which is fine with me because it means more to drink.

They seem to have a deal with Kellogs and that is the only cereal that our WIC will allow purchased, anything Kellogs brand in 18 oz or 36 oz boxes.

I thought of some more :-)

I use cheap shampoo, like the 99 cent VO5 or Suave, but I buy good conditioner in the larger bottle.  I also buy all my hand soap, body wash, and face wash generic.  I switched toothpaste because I kind I was buying was almost $4 a tube, I now buy a paste with the "fresh strip" still name brand and it is under $2.  DH likes those floss tools, but the little floss refills are expensive so back to the old way.  Some things I do not skip on like razors, but the cheap ones do not work as well or last as long.

To save at the salon my mom always goes to the student place to get highlights or a trim, some you can get mani's, pedi's, and facials at, I went with my MIL and for all three is was $18!  I donate my hair to Locks of Love last year and went to a higher end salon and paid $70 for the cut.  My mom did it this year and went to a Master Cut's and her's (not the exact style) looked just as good and would have cost her $20.  She ended up taking to the lady next to her and her niece had gotten a wig from LOL.  When my mom went up to pay they told her that the lady had already paid for my mom's cut.  DH cuts his own hair and DS's hair.

Also craigslist, free cycle, and consignments store for deals on clothes and baby items.  Also maybe you could advertise your design skills on craigslist?  I saw that you made your own siggy's, can you make baby, wedding announcement, cards and invites and advertise on craigslist?  Is there anyway that you and DH can go down to one car and sell the other?  Even at a small loss it may help in the long run.

Does anyone have a good way to wax eyebrows?  I can not pluck mine to save the life of me and hate paying $11 every 2 weeks to keep them up.  I usually just let them go.