I have found this to be true - kids are always hungry when they are away from home. Planning ahead for this can save a lot of money. We take food and water any time we are leaving home for more than a very brief time. Keeping a stash in the family van can help, too.
We recently drove to Florida for Thanksgiving. I planned ahead for the long trip by packing sandwiches, snacks, and bottles of water (non-disposable of course). This not only saved us time by not having to stop so often, but it also saved us from spending money at convenience stores and fast food restaurants. On the way back home however, I did not plan ahead. We ended up spending almost $60 on food that day. Now, you may say that's not bad for six people, but honestly I was just as happy with my sandwich from home.
Many people don't know that you can take your own food and drinks into a lot of places. We have always brought food and reusable water bottles to Disney World. This year we took our own food and water to the State Fair. I know some may think that takes some of the fun out of it. So, we usually plan for one meal or special snack to be bought there but the real hunger gets satisfied by reasonably priced food from home. A little planning can be a budget saver.
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Bread for less dough
I remember my mom taking me to the "day-old bread store" as we used to call it. Mostly I remember begging for the sweet goodies they sold there for next-to-nothing. Some family traditions should definitely be passed on. The price of bread these days is enough to give me a heart attack. The bakery outlet is just what the doctor ordered.
I like to go to the Flowers store. They have a large variety of bread products priced from 99 cents to about two dollars. I never have problems finding whole wheat bread for 99 cents, even the double-fiber variety. When they get a large shipment in, they run "buy one, get one free" specials. They even sell bagels, English muffins, and tortillas at 99 cents. Of course, my kids like to go in and beg for the sweet stuff - some things never change.
The best deal at Flowers is if you spend $5, you get another loaf free. Our family goes through a lot of bread, so spending five bucks has never been a problem. They also have a punch card system. They punch one star for every dollar you spend and after 50 punches you get $5 off your next order. It does take a while to fill a punch card, because after all, the bread is cheap!
I like to go to the Flowers store. They have a large variety of bread products priced from 99 cents to about two dollars. I never have problems finding whole wheat bread for 99 cents, even the double-fiber variety. When they get a large shipment in, they run "buy one, get one free" specials. They even sell bagels, English muffins, and tortillas at 99 cents. Of course, my kids like to go in and beg for the sweet stuff - some things never change.
The best deal at Flowers is if you spend $5, you get another loaf free. Our family goes through a lot of bread, so spending five bucks has never been a problem. They also have a punch card system. They punch one star for every dollar you spend and after 50 punches you get $5 off your next order. It does take a while to fill a punch card, because after all, the bread is cheap!
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Their trash, our treasure
My husband has been secretly wanting an electric hedge trimmer. I didn't know about this until he walked into the house with one the other day. We always discuss large purchases, so I was a little taken back. Then he told me it was free!
Some neighbors were moving out and apparently didn't want to take their hedge trimmer with them. They put it out by the road and my lucky husband was the first to find it. It works fine and almost looks brand new. He gets a new toy, (tool, whatever) and our bank account doesn't suffer!
I can't tell you how many things we have owned over the years that have come to us through someone's trash. It's our version of American Pickers - and it's free.
Some neighbors were moving out and apparently didn't want to take their hedge trimmer with them. They put it out by the road and my lucky husband was the first to find it. It works fine and almost looks brand new. He gets a new toy, (tool, whatever) and our bank account doesn't suffer!
I can't tell you how many things we have owned over the years that have come to us through someone's trash. It's our version of American Pickers - and it's free.
Thursday, November 1, 2012
It's cold outside
It's getting cold outside but I hesitate to turn on the heat. Why? It's expensive! It's hard to calculate the exact cost, but we all know it's not cheap.
The funny thing is most people have become so accustomed to temperature controlled homes that we can't think of any other way. My kids want to wear shorts and t-shirts during the winter! So, instead, we are learning to dress for the weather - even inside. If it's cold outside then wear winter clothes. I'm not suggesting parkas and gloves. Long pants and a sweater will do. Extra blankets on the bed at night or on the sofa for tv time help, too.
We can't go all winter without the heat on, but we can keep it reasonable. The inside doesn't have to be as warm as a summer day in the middle of winter. If you're not sure your family can do it, try lowering the inside temp one degree a day until it is where you want it to be for the winter. The savings will be worth it.
The funny thing is most people have become so accustomed to temperature controlled homes that we can't think of any other way. My kids want to wear shorts and t-shirts during the winter! So, instead, we are learning to dress for the weather - even inside. If it's cold outside then wear winter clothes. I'm not suggesting parkas and gloves. Long pants and a sweater will do. Extra blankets on the bed at night or on the sofa for tv time help, too.
We can't go all winter without the heat on, but we can keep it reasonable. The inside doesn't have to be as warm as a summer day in the middle of winter. If you're not sure your family can do it, try lowering the inside temp one degree a day until it is where you want it to be for the winter. The savings will be worth it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)