What I do is a little simpler, but it amazes me how people still find me frugal....
I do not have a debit card any more. I either use cash on grocery day or a check. I do not keep cash on me, if I have an emergency, there is always a check stuck in my wallet. For some reason, I'm more likely to spend with a debit card than with a check.
I only go grocery shopping once a week, with a well planned out list/menu for the following week. I've tried bi-weekly, but we eat too many fresh fruits and veggies. If I need something, such as emergency milk, I have DH pick it up on his way home from work.
I only go to Target once a month, to get necessities like shampoo/conditioner and baby bath. We have a new dollar store, so I'm thinking this may replace Target (I have a slight addiction to target
We only use Costco for pet food, without the one dog and two cats we wouldn't have a membership. We find the quality is comaprable for half the price. The rest of what is offered is often not worth it. We do not eat that many processed/pre packaged foods.
I make a soup or stew each week, it gets us through a couple of dinners with bread and leftovers for DH lunch. We save chicken bones in the freezer (nothing goes to waste!) and make broth, then throw in any extra veggies, pasta or rice and beans I have. Beans are a great cheap way to get protein. I find my 18 mo old will eat almost anything if it's cooked in broth, including kale!
Never eat out for lunch, DH akways takes leftovers and I take drinks and snacks with me everywhere. Remember it is never a good idea to reuse/freeze a typical water bottle. Purchase a Nalgene instead, the plastic is safer...
We still use cloth diapers when we're home. Cheap to launder and good for the environment.
I can't stay home all day, my little man and I are too active. I have found all the free/cheap activities: playgroup through the Mom's club, storytime at the library, kindergym through park and rec (only $4/visit). We never just go to the mall or a store for fun, too tempting! Also, forget those expensive music/gymboree classes, we can march around the house playing a tambourine.
No movies, fancy cable etc. We use Netflix, less than $20 a month. We can watch HBO series and movies for much less. We've learned to be patient. If we're desperate for a new release on a Sat evening, we use the red box from Safeway.
Cook as much from scratch as possible. We eat nothing with corn syrup or hydrogenated oils, so it helps to make many of our foods instead, and cheaper.
We love different kinds of food, so I've learned to cook it. No more going out, I've gotten especially good at thai and indian food, they're fun treats for the weekend.
We NEVER get take out, bad for the budget and our health. I always have boca burgers and oven fries in the freezer for tired Friday nights.
We never run the heater at night (we can do this in CA). If it's cold, which can happen in the fog bank we live in, I will use an energy conserving space heater in my ds rooom on low. Even when he was a baby, it broke the chill just enough.
Every load of laundry has to be FULL. Use cold water on everything but bedding and towels. Use half the detergent and fabric softener and only dry until damp and then hang dry.
Unplug your appliances when not in use.
Flush selectively, especially at night, no one notices (I use a bleach tablet in the toilet, we only have one bathroom, so it is flushed frequently enough to not do damage).
Basically, I'm a planner and a list maker. I seem neurotic to some of the other SAHM's in my neighborhood, but I'm pulling it off
trying to spend less
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