I sometimes go to Wal-Mart on one day (without money - no cash - no credit or debit card) to look at all the new things in the store. That way I am not overwhelmed by the "newest" things that I think I might have to have when I have money. Then, later in the week I go back with list in hand, exact cash and no temptation to even look at the new things. This really helps me. I sort of trick my mind by doing this. I find that I don't spend a lot of extra money on the "newest" things.

How much do you typically spend on the power bill this time of year? I am wondering b/c we just got our bill and it is $146! I just think that's too much! We are scaling down so I can quit my job and stay at home and with power bills like that we won't make it! I know the obvious: turn off lights, unplug stuff etc. We have a programmable therm. and it has been set at 77. We are BURNING UP though! We live in GA so it is hot this time of year and only getting hotter. We feel like something might be wrong with it. We are in a new to us house and it has a new AC/heat system. What are we doing wrong?? I will say that I use the dryer a lot. I am going to buy some clothes dryers to see if air drying cuts it back. Please give me suggestions as to what I am doing wrong here. I really want to make staying home a reality and my hubbie is not going to go for it if we can't pay our bills! I have gotten great ideas so far from this site so please keep them coming!

I know I'm late posting but a few ideas:

1.) If you hit Starbucks or others PM me to find out how to make your own. We are starting a coffee business when DH is done with school.

2.) Make double on a few of your favorite meals. Then freeze half for the night you don't have the energy to cook or your sick.

3.) Your kids are gonna remember playing with you more than you taking them somewhere.

Having so many kids and 3 more on the way we have learned many ways to live cheaply. We used to do foster care too so we have always had at least 6 kids running around here.

We drink sun tea, it's way cheaper than soda, hi-c or even koolaid. I use about 1/2 to 3/4 C. sugar for 1 gallon.

I buy bread,muffins snacks etc... from the bread thrift store. Ours has $5 for a cart full. I also give bread to my dogs as a treat and to help stretch the dog food.

Refill bottles from bottled water freeze'm and take with us in the car.

Always feed the kids before going anywhere and take snacks with.

I love Freecycle!

I Recycle junk into things we can use. Old milk jugs can be made into clothespin holders to hang on the line, pet food scoops, tomato toppers for young plants and many more things.

We buy fresh farm eggs from a farmer for .75 cents a doz. and they are huge.

I try to make everything I can from scratch and I feel guilty about buying store bought cookies and such.

I don't go anywhere unless I have to.

I don't spend money on my clothes because I never go anywhere, I bought a box of maternity clothes on ebay for $40 and have got the rest from freecycle. I am really huge b/c of the triplets so I am using reg. tops in sz 2x instead of buying more maternity. I will use them for sleep shirts after the babies are born.

Cloth diaper and breastfeed. Yes I will bf the triplets for as long as humanly possible.

I shop once a month at the dented can store and buy bulk from the Amish stores nearby.

I am not too proud to take hand me downs from people who offer, I even think it's quite fun to get new stuff like that. A friend gave us a swingset and a pile of toys recently.

We don't run the CA until we really have to. Right now it's a breezy 75 in here and feels great.

Winter we use wood heat and cut wood all summer to get a good supply, we have our own timber but neighbors let us have the wood just for clearing the trees for them. Free heat.

These are just a few.
Momof6plus

I have to say that I did do this when I was pregnant so I could save money for things that I would need. Within a few months I had over $300 saved. That money helped us buy a high chair and all the baby clothes that we needed when our DD was born (We didn't find out the sex before birth)

I am seriously considering doing it again soon. Just to be able to save some money up.

__________________
~ Heather
Mommy to 4 Angels and 1 Earth Angel

The TV and Fridge are the biggest energy hogs in the home. We can't unplug the fridge, but we do unplug the TV at the outlet (the computer too) every night. They still suck up energy even when the power is off so you have to unplug it.
Also, we are going to sell our second car. This is a HUGE decision for us. But, the only thing I absolutely must use it for each day is to take the kids to school and pick them up again. So, we're buying bikes (school is 2 miles from house) and a little bike trailer so I can tote my 3 year old. My 6 year old is just too precious to let her ride alone!!!! It will put $400 a month back into our budget between gas and payment. Its a big sacrifice for me though! I'm trying to be positive about it by realizing we'll all get some exercise and fresh air!

Is this going to work in the winter months too? Just concerned

__________________
"Before I was a Mom I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body." ~Anonymous

Even though some things at Walmart are cheaper, we try not to shop there- The one stop shopping is a bad deal for frugal people. Everytime we're there, I am sure we buy more than what is on our list!


We have a rummage sale every year. We decide what the money will go for before each sale. We go to a lot of rummage sales as well. You can find some pretty nice things at rummage/garage sales!

We started using the energy saver light bulbs- even though they cost a bit more, there truely is a savings on the energy bill each month! They pay for them selves in a matter of a few months!

We rent a carpet cleaner and do it ourselves. I see a lot of people now days with the professionals coming in to do it and they are SPENDY! Save a ton of money by renting a rug Doctor and do it yourself!

We use baking soda and vinegar for a lot of things! Mix it together and pour it down clogged drains. Wait 15 minutes and pour hot water down - no more clog! I use vinegar to clean my sinks, windows, floors (don't worry about the smell, it goes away when it dries).
In stead of buying teeth whitening strips or kits- wet your toothbrush and dip it in baking soda! Your gums won't get sore with the baking soda and it costs a ton less!!! Do it once a day or at least 4 times a week (my dad is a dentist and will not recommend the at home cleaners, as they are too harsh on the gums and teeth!)
Do not buy the expensive tooth pastes! The cheapest one that is ADA recommended is all you need! The rest of the toothpastes are so expensive because of all the extras that are put into it that are not needed by your teeth to be healthy!

For a fun activity AND cheap food idea, take your kids to any of the strawberry patches, apple orchards or other fruit / veg picking places that are open to the community. You pay a small amount of money to get fresh fruits and veggies, And your kids get a lesson in gardening and have fun on top of it!

I'm not sure if this has already been posted but you can also use vinegar to get rid of all the build up from hard water. We have really bad water in this area and every couple of months our shower heads or the focids get clogged up. We just screw them off and lay them in a bowl filled with vinegar. Depending on how bad they look we let them soak overnight, rinse them off with water and they look like new again.

The biggest money savers for me are
1) make my coffee in the morning instead of buying it out
2) take my lunch with me to work instead of buying it
3) use a refillable water bottle-- those add up so quickly in cost and create so much more trash