Great Article

Here is a link to an article that I think is very beneficial to those trying to save on the grocery budget.

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/life/fiscal-fitness-3-ways-to-save-100-on-groceries-571868/

Check it out.

Giving Back

Tonight is one of those very rare evenings that comes along. Tonight, I am at home with only 1 child and my husband is out for the evening. I love my family, but sometimes I just need a little alone time. So, on this evening, my daughter and I watched a movie (one we own), we ate some left over chicken pot pie (homemade) and than I put her to bed. Now, I sit here blogging with a glass of red wine and the most recent episode of The Office playing in the background.

As we all know, Haiti was victim to a terrible natural disaster a couple weeks ago. The images have been horrific. It seems like there is nothing that any of us can do to make things better. I know that I write this blog about the up side of frugality. Events like the one in Haiti makes me forever grateful that my husband and I can pinch pennies. Why? Because we were able to give a donation to the American Red Cross without wondering if we could afford it, or fear that it may take from obligations that we have.

I guess I do not discuss that we give to charities and organizations that we believe in. We always give to the American Red Cross after natural disasters. Katrina, the tsunami, and now the earthquake in Haiti. We give to the politicians we believe in (I will not say which side of the aisle we are on, I do not debate politics with people I do not know). We also give to social organizations that we support. Out of respect to my vegetarian daughter, I just donated to PETA. While I do not support all of their methods, I believe in their message. My 11 year old daughter believes so strongly in it that I felt it was my duty to give at least a little bit to them, if only for her. In other words, when practicing frugality, we do not forget to give back. I wish it could be more, maybe someday.

Frugal Acts - 1/9/10-1/22/10

So, I have been pretty busy the last 9 days. I meant to blog every night, but found myself doing something else before turning for the night. I do have a list of things we have done over the last 2 weeks to save money.

1. Used coupons! Several of them in fact.

2. Used cold water for every load of laundry.

3. Paid off all credit cards in full this month, avoiding finance charges.

4. Paid extra on our Home Equity Loan.

5. Used the library

6. Allowed magazines subscriptions to lapse

7. Kept to my grocery budget

8. Used peapod.com, read my blog about that for explanation

9. Ate leftovers for dinner 2 nights.

10. Doubled recipes for dinner and froze half for future meals.

Well, that is about it for frugal acts. I am proud of my progress, but find I can improve a little bit.

Happy Birthday Hannah!!

Today my little girl turned 11. I can't believe it. She is so grown up and getting more beautiful everyday. Here is my list of 11 things that I think are spectacular about Hannah.

1. She is an animal lover X 100! She has not touched meat since she was 6 years old. She believes that killing animals is wrong no matter what the reason.

2. She is environmentalist X 100! She has educated herself on the contribution humans have made to global warming. She stands by her beliefs and will not be swayed by anyone.

3. She genuinly likes everyone. If she doesn't, she will never say. She is kind to everyone.

4. She can keep a secret and will keep it. I have witnessed friends of hers trying to pry a secret about a friend from her, she will not budge no matter what.

5. She is loyal to her friends, once a friend always a friend.

6. She is helpful around the house. She is always the first if she can help with something. Even tonight for her birthday she asked if I needed help setting the table.

7. She has fashion sense I never had. For 11 years old, she knows how to dress well.

8. She loves her dog Stella with all her heart. The dog sleeps with her every night.

9. School is very important to her. She takes her grades and studies seriously.

10. She plays the violin, and is becoming quite good at it.

11. She is a great daughter.

Winter Blah's

We have entered the time of year that seems to bring out the blues. I hate to sound like I am complaining, but I can't take this weather anymore. It is so cold, there is so much snow and there seems to be no sun, ever! It feels like Spring will never arrive. I long to be able to open my windows, hang my sheets out to dry and to talk a walk around the block that does not require I wear so much gear to keep warm. I know my kids are getting in cabin fever and the dogs need to run around with get snow or salt stuck in their paws. My poor husband reads his gardening magazines and books religiously, planning the garden that is months away from being planted.

I wish I could say that I am one of those people who skis, skates or snowmobiles, but I am not. I really have no business living in such a cold climate. I prefer being outside in the sun and warmth. Swimming in Lake Michigan, biking or hiking. But, the fact is that I live in Wisconsin. I lived here most of my life and will probably stay here for the rest of my life. So, I guess I better learn to live with the blues for 3 months a year or engage in one of the many winter activities this climate allows.

Peapod.com

Today I had a delivery of groceries from peapod.com. Can I just say that I LOVE IT!! I know, some would say that grocery delivery is probably not that frugal. But, I would disagree with that. Let me state here that I hate grocery shopping, with a passion. To me it is the single worst chore that any housewife has to endure. So, any excuse to get out of it I am all over.

I have had deliveries from peapod in the past during times when I could not make it to the grocery store. Times when the weather is terrible, or when I have an ongoing stretch of sick kids. This time I had a delivery just to see how it would effect my weekly routine when all is well and things are normal. I think I am hooked. Now I will state the reasons why I think this service is frugal and practical.

1. Prices are competitive. They had the same kind of sales going on that the local grocery store has going on right now.

2. Discounts are given for using checking, choosing specific delivery times and using E-coupons.

3. While there is a delivery fee and fuel surcharge, I believe the benefit of not having to bag my groceries and carry them into the house outweighs the $7.50 I paid for those 2 fees.

4. It took me 15 minutes to grocery shop in the comfort of my home. The time savings alone is priceless.

5. I did not buy one thing based on impulse. I wonder how much that saved me?

6. I had next weeks meal plan in front of me and was able to type in what I needed. I was directed to the needed items without having to search the store.

7. Peapod takes coupons

8. They took the bags with them, while my groceries were being carried into my house I was unloading and giving them the bags. I was done with unloading my groceries in 10 minutes.

9. The products are high quality, the same stuff you find at the grocery store.

I am hooked. A week of grocery shopping took me 25 minutes total. I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders. Grocery shopping does not have to suck. Yeah!

Frugal Acts - 1/1/10-1/7/10

Here is a list of the things that family has done the first week of 2010 to maintain our frugal lifestyle.

1. Had a leftover night for dinner earlier this week

2. Used the library for needed books

3. Will use a buy 1/get 1 coupon for the pizza we will buy for our weekly pizza night

4. Used cold water in all but 1 load of laundry this week

5. Tonight is family movie night, we stay at home for this and will either watch a Netflix movie or a movie that we already own.

6. Bought several necessities at an outlet mall last week at 70% off.

7. Took advantage of the bulk items currently on sale at Target for household necessities. For example I loaded up on the following: toilet paper, pasta, snacks for kids lunches and cleaning supplies.

I am happy with our start, but looking forward to next week to see what I can accomplish. First thing on next weeks list, I hope, utilized coupons.