Comments on: What We’re Doing To Adjust To One Income

By: Nancy

Nancy — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 13:09:16 +0000

Think “old-fashioned entertainment” for frugal fun. What did people do for fun before everyone seemed to be plugged into computers and video games 24/7? Think: reading together, singalongs, board games, walks outside, a picnic in the local park, card games like Crazy 8’s, doing chores like washing the car, crafts from recycled items you already have, cooking together, planting seeds, volunteer work, gardening, nature walks, bird watching, free programs at the library, etc. We need to get over the idea that we have to “spend money” to have a good time or that we have to buy “the latest and the greatest popular items” for our children. They will mostly remember what you did with them, not the latest junky toy you bought them that’s forgotten in 6 months. Wht they want is your time and attention and love.

By: Nancy

Nancy — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 13:00:53 +0000

Keep on the lookout for free entertainment. In the newspaper today there was an announcement for a free concert later this week by a touring Air Force band. Tickets are free and available at a local grocery store and at the auditorium box office. In previous years we have attend at least 1 of these concerts. They are of high quality, very professional, entertaining , and free!

By: Nancy

Nancy — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 12:57:48 +0000

Buy local “coupon books” that usually sell for about $25. Often schools and other non-profit groups sell those for fundraisers. Those coupon books are full of sometimes free or Buy 1 Get 1 Free coupons for anything from restaurant meals, $10 off oil changes, entertainment, $5. off groceries, etc. You can recoup your purchase price by using a couple of the coupons and then you have a year to use the rest of the thick book of coupons. I like to keep a runing total in the back of the book to show how much I have saved!

By: Nancy

Nancy — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 12:53:34 +0000

Many retail establishment and restaurants have special birthday offers for children and/or adults. Do a search for birthday club online. Register at the different sites and shortly before your birthday, you’ll receive postcards or e-mail certificates you can print for anything from a free ice cream cone to a free restaurant meal. Some of these type offers are only for children and some are for adults only. Celebrate – in a “free” fashion – around your birthday!

By: Nancy

Nancy — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 12:49:32 +0000

If it is a “good coupon week” in the Sunday newspapers, buy some extra copies, and start clipping. One local store here sells Sunday newspaper for 75 cents (while they last) starting Monday. Last week I bought 10 extra copies because the coupons were fabulous! I’m still clipping while I watch TV in the evenings.

By: Nancy

Nancy — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 12:47:03 +0000

Sign up for grocery store’s e-mail newsletter programs. That week’s sales and special offers are sent to you by e-mail. Information on special promotions and sweepstakes for e-mail newsletter members only and special large value printable coupons are often included.

By: Nancy

Nancy — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 12:45:10 +0000

Sign up for grocery story loyalty cards. When you present your card at checkout, you qualify for special offers (like Buy 1, Get 1 Free items) and a reduction in merchandise prices. Sometimes you can qualify for sweepstakes giveaways through your purchases too!

By: Nancy

Nancy — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 12:43:18 +0000

Clip coupons for items you need and use. Don’t be hesitant to try a new brand or variety if you have a coupon for it. Try to find grocery stores that double and maybe even sometimes triple coupons.

By: Nancy

Nancy — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 16:21:58 +0000

Seasonal children’s consignment sales are another way to either buy or sell children’s clothing, books, equipment, and toys. Sometimes churches have seasonal sales a couple of times a year: usually around the time school starts and then again in spring. It is essentially a two or 3 day temporary re-sale shop. People register, are assignned a number, and price and tag their items to sell. The host organization (like a church, mother’s day out program, or a private seller), provides the location, the tables, and clothing racks, and the personnel. They sell the items and collect the money. Sometimes things are half off on the second day of the sale. You collect any of your unsold items at the end of the last day or usually they will donate them to charity. The host keeps a percentage of the money and the consigner is mailed a check. Of course you can also buy items from other sellers as you are selling your unwanted items. Always check over gently used items carefully and check online for any product recalls on equipment before you buy! Good luck!

By: Nancy

Nancy — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 16:11:37 +0000

Join – or set up -a free baby sitting co-op in your area. Usually parents in the same neighborhood join together. All the parents might also go to the same church or be in other group together. You basically are trading baby-sitting time. Different groups set up slightly different rules, but essentially you “bank” some hours each time you babysit for someone else’s child. Then when you are ready to go out to dinner or a movie, you “spend” some of your banked hours. There’s usually a monthly “book keeper” who registers the hours that go in the book as earned and that are subtracted from the book as used. Each member has their own page where their hours are tracked. Essentially you are often earning hours while your own child or children have a play date with their friends at your home! You can start up a group with people you know who have children around the ages of your own. It also provides the stay at home parent a way to have some time to run errands every once in a while without the children. It’s fun, easy, and free! Give it a try!