Today at the library I picked up a copy of The Complete Tightwad Gazette by Amy Dacyczyn. I periodically take out books on frugality and simple living. I never read these books cover to cover but am happy to glean a few hints/tips to incorporate into my life and budget.
Well as I lazily read the book from the comfort of my armchair this afternoon, I came upon an article which referenced the USDA’s ”Food Plans: Cost of Food at Home at Four Levels“. Now the article was written in 1993, so I decided to check on line for the current levels of spending for American families. Recently, I had shared that I spend $120 a week on food for my family of 6. I wanted to see whether this put me in the Thrifty, Low-cost, Moderate-cost, or Liberal plan. I was thrilled to see that we were on the Thrifty plan. Of course the author of The Tightwad Gazette spent about 1/4 of the Thrifty plan amount!!! But you have to start somewhere and I’m happy for the gains I’ve made (although I know that I have more work to do in this area). If you have any money saving tips, I’d love to hear them. And I’ll post any ideas that I come across in my reading. Let the sharing and savings begin!!!
I have that book too!! Clearly we are money saving kindred spirits
I should dig it out…we haven’t gone through it for over a year now and I am sure we could use a refresher!
Hmm, lets see if I have a money saving tip for you..We are very careful with our winter heat. So far this year we haven’t had it over 63ish. We just put on another sweater, socks, sheerling slippers etc LOL..We also have a woodstove we can use.
Ohh and I guess our #1 thing is ALWAYS pay the credit card in full!! No worse way to waste money than in crazy interest rates. We never carry a balance.
What are YOUR tips?!?!?
I spend more on food than you do, so I am not in much of a position to comment, but a few things that have helped save money while switching to Organic are to menu plan (I use Saving Dinner menu mailers sometimes) and buy very little prepared food — the exception for us being bread, hopefully in the new year we will be making our own bread more often, that is probably our biggest budget blow. Seriously, though, we don’t eat at all between meals now, so I basically buy cereal (Oatmeal), milk, pancake mix, meat, eggs, cheese, fruits, vegetables, bread and PB&J. If I add a pantry run once a month or so, we do great — every once in a while I long for some chips ahoy, but since we don’t have them, I can’t eat them!
Good for you, I will be so curious to hear how it goes when you bump down to $100, just don’t do it at the sake of nutrition!
My best tip is to make a list of all those things you’d like to buy when you see them – home-school supplies, clothing, etc.
Then let the list sit. If I still “need” it in a week then I buy it. But most things are not “needs” and I come to my senses in that week.
We do not eat organic (with some exceptions) but we’ve never eaten better than since I’ve started budgeting.
I buy much less convenience foods which are full of preservative, salt, etc.
Thanks for the concern.