Snowflaking ideas for Beginners

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-17-2007
Snowflaking ideas for Beginners
3
Wed, 06-03-2009 - 5:14pm

This is for the beginners of the board


My husband and I are on a fixed income. 3100.00 a month give or take a few dollar. In September of 2007 we owed around 30,000.00 with

Avatar for sohappilyme
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 06-03-2009 - 5:35pm

Great post, Mary Ann!

Here's another tip for beginners that comes to mind: forget brand loyalty! That doesn't mean you have to buy generic, but it DOES mean you should check the unit quantity. I was in the store this week and found Charmin toilet paper on clearance for $2.68 for 4 rolls. It's normally $3.69 for the same pack. The store brand I buy when nothing is one sale is $3.19. I had two packs of Charmin in my cart before I remembered to check the unit price, and I was surprised to discover that the store brand at $3.19 was still less than the Charmin on clearance! (2.8 versus 2.2 cents per unit measurement). Both packs had the same number of rolls.

Sometimes the math gets complicated - unit prices on sale minus coupons or specials - but it's well worth the trouble. I usually save 40-50% off my grocery bill off regular prices. Keep a list of "good" prices with you so that you'll know if a "special" at one store is a good value compared to price you can get it somewhere else. Those displays can be deceiving!

Sarah


Sarah
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-01-2008
Thu, 06-04-2009 - 11:40am

Great idea about the Buy 1 Get 1 pizza deal. I never thought of getting one uncooked and freezing it! I'm living alone now and that tip will really help. I treat myself to one pizza a month, and haven't been taking advantage of the B1-G1 coupons. Thanks, Mary Ann!

Mary Jo









iVillage Member
Registered: 08-02-1998
Thu, 06-04-2009 - 1:15pm
If you live in an area where you can return pop/beer bottles and cans for a deposit. When you go out for a walk pack a plastic grocery bag with you and pick up the bottles to return. My MIL does this and finds 4-6 cans/ bottles when she takes her dog out for a walk. We do this as well when we take the little ones out for a walk, not only do they get to have a bit of money (they are pretty young so easily impressed still) and it tidies up the neighbourhood. My MIL can find $10-12 a month just in bottles (not counting the pennies and other coins she finds)