Ways to save your pennies

tig594

I'm sure, as single parents, we all welcome different ideas to save money.  What are yours?  How do you stretch your pesos?  How do you stretch your groceries?  I am really interested in couponing but there are no grocery stores in my area that double coupons.  I am totally jealous of those women on Extreme Couponing.  Maybe I should have @Roxalot do my shopping for me!  

Anyway, let's hear your tips and tricks!

20thirteen

Amazon mom, bulk buy diapers and coffee. Plus, when you sign up for amazon mom, you automatically are signed up for amazon prime (for free). Which is good for me when I have enough money for a new book or something.

Also, there are Mexican grocery stores near me that sell produce and meat cheaper than jewel, either equal or better quality. On Facebook, I "like" a couple of budget pages so they give me links to stuff like $50/week family meal plans or make your own cleaning agents. Or recipe for fabric softener for the dryer (to cut back on dryer sheets). That's what I've started to do. I also cook meals for 10 people when I cook so I have leftovers for lunches or a quick dinner.

MinnesotaMomma91

I buy on sale, i do meal planning around sales. Buy in bulk when certain things are on sale. I do more cooking and baking from scratch. I make my own flavored water.

For bentley i buy second hand when possible and i cant tell you the last time i bought me something

20thirteen

Oh, yeah. My mom gave me money and told me that I had to use it to buy myself shoes since the shoes I had were full of holes and the soles were ripping off every time I took them off.

eg214

I need to get better at this FAST but here's what I do/done:

Consignment sales for LO's things. Amazing how much you can save. Here's a link to find a sale near you: https://consignmentmommies.com/

Baby Cheapskate

Target Mobile Coupons for Baby

Target Cartwheel App

Printing coupons from Target.com (adding all three together for big savings!!!)

Krazy Coupon Lady Blog

Woot.com

eBay (Got a pack of 800 wipes for $20 with free shipping today)

ALWAYS checking RetailMeNot for coupon codes for online purchases.

Shopular app.

I want to start couponing but the Sunday paper is $55 for the year and I don't have that right now.

And yes, I really don't buy things for myself. I splurged on a $25 custom phone case with LO's picture on the back and got it down to $18 with coupon code and free shipping. I don't plan on buying clothes or shoes for myself for an eternity.

MinnesotaMomma91

I go to the grocery store and grab their add that is at the enterance.

I also shop around. Ill hit up multiple stores for the best deals. Where im at i get the best meat deals at target and cub foods, i get some good produce deals at target.

Bf saves all his change. Hes got three change jars of quarters just in case.

klv

I cut coupons but usually forget to use them because I grocery shop when I have time and not a scheduled "Saturday morning" type thing.

I don't eat a ton of meat which saves $ and the meat I do eat is chicken or ground beef/turkey.

I use my crockpot for soup and stuff. We can eat for a few days on that and it is cheap!

For clothes I usually shop at goodwill for myself and LO.

I also keep my apt about 65 and use towels to block drafts from windows and doors

klv

Oh and I make my own muffins! It saves a ton and it's easy. LO loves them and takes one to DC every morning. Sometimes I have to lie about what's in them but whatever. Some of our favorites are banana, pumpkin, carrot and applesauce and zucchini and carrot.

Whip up a batch, it will cost $2 a dozen or so. Throw them in the freezer and defrost in the microwave.

jesuisfatiguee

I shop at Salvation Army and Goodwill for DS' and my clothes (and sometimes toys)

I use 50/50 vinegar/water solution for cleaning. Amazingly cheap!

I take my lunch to work / eat out very little

I have a Netflix account, but don't pay for cable

I drink very little alcohol and even less soda

Target brand diapers and breast milk storage bags

Big Lots brand toilet paper and other paper goods

I stock up on things I buy often when they're on sale

That's all I can think of right now… 

MinnesotaMomma91

je+suis=fatiguee said:

I shop at Salvation Army and Goodwill for DS' and my clothes (and sometimes toys)

I use 50/50 vinegar/water solution for cleaning. Amazingly cheap!

I take my lunch to work / eat out very little

I have a Netflix account, but don't pay for cable

I drink very little alcohol and even less soda

Target brand diapers and breast milk storage bags

Big Lots brand toilet paper and other paper goods

I stock up on things I buy often when they're on sale

That's all I can think of right now… 

Ive heard baking soda also works really well? Any comment on that? Suggestions? I like cleaning with vinegar and water. Its safe and non toxic so i dont wave to worry about what if ds accidentley ingests it

tig594

I think some of my biggest savings are:

I got rid of Dish (no cable where I live).  I don't have time to watch much tv anyway but when I do want to catch a show I watch on my computer or Kindle.  I did buy a Roku for $40 and am currently paying for Netflix but will probably cancel it.  I don't think the TV has been turned on in well over a week. I also don't want DD growing up glued to the tube.

I switched to esurance for my car insurance.  They are pretty cheap.  

I buy a lot of store brand groceries.  Most great value brand stuff tastes just like name brand.  Walmart diapers work great for us and we've never had a problem with them.  I think I pay 13 cents a diaper.  They are probably cheaper online somewhere, I'm sure.  

I buy DD second hand clothes and toys a lot from garage sale sites on facebook.  I don't buy any clothes that aren't deeply discounted.  I also try to think ahead.  I bought DD's winter coat for next year at JCP a couple months ago.  It was 80% off. I just hope it fits her then!

We rarely eat out so I cook at home a lot.  I don't want DD growing up wanting McDonald's 6 nights a week so this is good.  I either bring my lunch to work (if I have to run errands at lunch time) or go home for lunch.

20thirteen

@minnesotamomma91  I use a baking soda/vinegar mix to clean spots on my carpet.  I sprinkle baking soda over the spot (not a whole lot), and then I spray vinegar (from a spray bottle) on the baking soda and then rub it into the carpet, let it dry and then vacuum. 

I also try not to go out for lunch.  I live across the street from work so if I don't bring lunch, I try to run home and make something.

Should we have a thread for recipes?  I made a few things from my foodie pinterest board and they were either really easy or made around 5 or 6 servings.

jellybean529

Awesome suggestions above -- I have just a couple to add:

* Costco! My $50 membership has paid for it a thousand times over.

* Finding free/cheap things to do with the kiddo -- these usually wind up being more fun too! I spent $6 taking her to a local farmer's market/petting farm last weekend and we spent like 5 hours there vs. $50 for a 2 hour movie movie/drinks/popcorn.

MinnesotaMomma91

Yes to a recipee thread! Do we want it to be sticky?

20thirteen

Does sticky mean it would be at the top of the board? Then, yes.

I forgot, my dad has a costco card too, and he takes me shopping there.  900 wipes for $20, love it! I also buy meat in bulk there sometimes if the price is right. And they also have a small area with clothes for children (and adults) and I've gotten a few cheapie outfits too.

Does anyone have a cheapie theater near them?  There is a theater near my house that plays first run movies about a week after they come out for about half the price of a regular theater.  Plus they have $2 Tuesdays where you can see a movie for $2!  I haven't gone to that theater since my first date with BF (we saw Star Trek, because I fucking love Star Trek) which was pre-DD, but if you have something similar in your town, I highly recommend it!

I barely have bought any clothes for DD since we have received so many hand-me-downs from family, friends and co-workers. I used to joke that she had enough clothes to last her until she was 4 years old, but the rate that she's growing, I may have to revise that number! She's only just over 8mo and is already in size 12mo clothes! And we just had to move up to size 4 diapers! I have friends with older children who are still in size 3!! DD is going to be SO BIG! And, if her cousin is any indication, she'll look like a 1st grader by the time she's 3 years old!  

jellybean529

I have a second run theater that does movies for $1 on Tuesdays! Love that idea!

tig594

BD has a Sams membership but I wasn't impressed with their prices.  My sister is a Costcoaholic and buys so much shit there.  She bought DD 3 huge cans or formula and sent them to me.  They also have amazing chicken salad.  

Our local theatre has free kids movies in the spring every Saturday morning.  They are old ones. I think they are showing the Lorax this weekend.  I've not taken DD yet.  I'm not sure she can sit still that long.  

I joked about not needing clothes for DD until she starts school, too.  11 months and still in size 3 diapers but it seems her pants are getting too short.  That's why I had to go shopping for her last weekend.  At least she'll be ready when all this snow starts melting.  I've told everyone to get her the 18 month size if they buy her clothes for her birthday.

When it's hot in the summer I am stubborn/cheap and refuse to turn the AC on unless I'm laying in bed sweating to death or the neighbors are outside playing horseshoes at 2 a.m. (where's my spork!??!).  Every time the heat kicks on or I have to turn the AC on I see dollar bills flying out the window in my head.  

MinnesotaMomma91

I got a huge box of up and up wipes on clerance back in october and still have half.the box left .

I live near the mall of america and once a month they do toddler tuesday. Which is free activities for kids.

Bf lives near several parks which will be fun over the summer. Plus also were gonna start saving up money to take a trip out to south dakota with my family.

I got an insane amount of huge boxes of diapers for christmas so thats saved lots of money. My mom loves spoiling bentley so she is always buying him some fub thing.

Bf jokes around were going to save so much on kids hair cuts in the future cause i can do them at home for free

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mandi12

idk if any of the stores she blogs about would be in your area but mashupmom.com is great for couponing by me. also couponmom.com is good for any area. if you want to learn i could help you. couponing is an awesome way to get all your personal hygiene stuff for super cheap. i have a small stockpile of toothpaste, shampoo, deodorant, cough medicine.... that type of stuff. it all adds up if you pay full price!

20thirteen

HA, @mandi12, I should've checked the thread first to see if you had seen it. Which you have. LOL

MinnesotaMomma91

Also if your a smoker quiting that will save you a couple hunred a month

EmeraldCity84

I do amazon mom but actually found lately that diapers.com generally has diapers for cheaper than on amazon, even with the subscription discount.  I always check both thought to be sure, and check amazon coupons because they usually have Huggies or Pampers coupons you can use.