Yes the freezer, I love it! DH laughs at me until I pull a great soup or spaghetti sauce meal out of it. Since there are only the two of us I'll also make a cake and freeze half of it for another desert. One of the ladies magazines recently, maybe Good Housekeeping, had a list of all the things you can freeze like even eggs and milk.

I used to do the same thing Soxmom, when I was a stay at home Mom. I love cooking from scratch! Also, if you read the ingredient list of prepared foods, it can give extra motivation.

I cook on Sunday nights now, DH cooks five nights a week since I work and he doesn't. He's learning to cook many things from scratch and he's really good at economizing too.


You can also freeze pies Jules, if you ever make those. I used to make fresh cherry pies when we had a nice big tree in our backyard that gave us buckets full of tart cherries each June. I'd make a two crust pie and freeze it. Or, you can freeze individual pieces as well. BTW, I also freeze pieces of cake when I make them. Then we don't have to eat it all at once.

I loooooveee sour cherry pie. year ago, I lived where we had a tree also. a pain to pit,
but yummy!!!

We lived in that house for about three years, and one year there were enough cherries for all of our relatives too! I tried to plant one in the yard of our current house and it didn't make it. I think they prefer the sandy soil we had before.

BTW, I love that pie too!

Yes it does! We already have all our TVs and components plugged into "power strips". We just moved them from behind the equipment so we can turn them off after use. I even unplug my coffee maker after use.

This link gives more energy saving ideas: http://www.energyright.com/energytips.htm

If you are looking for low cost meals and home cooking from scratch recipes try this link. http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/index.htm


Came back to add this one: http://frugalabundance.com/ She has a section with gluten-free and casein free recipes.

Quit smoking.

And walk where you can (if possible).

Since I have been on SSDI I have a certain amount I allocate for food each month and that's it. I have to stay within that allotment. I use coupons but before any shopping trip I take inventory of what I already have and what I'm going to need. I also make up menus to follow that allow for leftovers.

Another trick that works really well is the "cash only" rule. I take a certain amount of cash out for groceries, gas, etc. and that's all I have to work with. It really helps to avoid the impulse buys at the grocery since I know I only have a certain amount of cash to spend. I leave my debit card at home locked up in the safe.

I have not used my credit card at all in over a year. I only have one now and that is used only for emergencies. It stays locked in the safe also. I really don't use credit at all but I've found that it's just about impossible to not have at least one. If it is used it's paid off the same month.

We use a lot of grains, herbs, nuts, and seeds, cheaper bought in bulk at an International Mkt. and then stored (excess) in freezer.
We also buy our olive oils and specialty items like Rice vinegar, tahini, and sesame oil there...cheaper, and we buy enough for the year.

We buy tomatoes in huge cans and when I am having a good spell, make marinaras, spagetti sauces, soups, and various dishes we love, and freeze for our own fast foods to pull out when I am not doing well, or when we are rushed.
I do other main dishes, and a few desserts for freezing also, cheaper than take-out.

I invested in a large Kitchenaid mixer, a Zojhurishi bread machine, and a micro/convection combo oven. I do hubby's french bread w/ the mixer (can't knead anymore) and the micro/convection combo oven, which cuts down on energy (mine & electric) and heat, and other breads are done in the ZO.
Overall this is cheaper for healthy breads then store bought, particularily since we get the huge 20 or 25 lb sacks of bread flour, and buy our yeast, wheat, rye and other flour/grains bulk and freeze. this also saves on electricity, or natural gas for the oven and for A/C during hot months.

I wish we lived where there was, or was interest in, a food co-op, more money saving opportunities.

End of part one, .

It is just my DH and myself and sometimes he gets take out from the Chinese restaurant...all you can eat for 7 bucks. We also buy meats like chicken, beef or pork when it is buy one get one free. We store these in a freezer.

My Xhusband grows vegetables, so I can get those from him and freeze them.

We also go fishing a lot...so we have fish in the freezer...we buy shrimp in bulk and saves us money...we buy straight from the dock...no middle man which makes them way cheaper.

Another way to help with money...once a month or so go through all the closets or room by room cleaning. Anything you haven't used in 6 to 12 months...have a yard sale. People are looking for those bargains...we have made as much as 300 bucks in a day.

This is really good if you are redecorating...sell all the old stuff to help pay the new stuff.

Discount stores usually have non perishables at a really good price because the cans are dented or the box in crushed....I bought 12 cans of english peas for 5.00.

Thank you for starting this thread...I think we all can use good ideas on how to save.