When trying to cut back on household expenses, it only makes sense to start by cutting back or eliminating  items that end up in the trash anyway.  I wrote previously of the wonders of cloth diapering, but there are smaller, re-usable changes that just about everyone can make, without the uck factor.

Let’s start with paper goods.  How many paper towels do you grab to mop up that spill when an old t-shirt would work just as well?  The key is to have the re-usables handy, and already adapted to the task at hand.  You can achieve this by cutting cotton rags into washcloth-sized squares (or another size if it is better suited to your needs), and stowing them in a shoe box, wipes container, or other small box under sinks.  Now they are handy for spills, cleaning mirrors or windows, or wiping the counters.  Just be careful about throwing them in with regular laundry if you use cleaning agents which contain bleach!

For the truly brave, frugal environmentalist, there are also cloth baby wipes, cloth menstrual pads, and the good old-fashioned handkerchief (at least you can cut down on the Kleenex).

Rinsing out freezer bags and hanging them to dry probably seems extreme to most people, but even this little gesture only takes a minute when you’re doing dishes anyway, and it adds up.  Using a lot of plastic wrap to store leftovers?  Try saving those butter tubs, sour cream and cottage cheese containers with lids, and put leftovers in those instead.  Just don’t heat them in the microwave - move food back to a plate first.

Take a look around your home, see what you throw away every day, and try making old-fashioned substitutes!

Rising food costs have been in the news and on the minds of everyone who is in the habit of eating.  With some staples doubling in price over the past year and no end in sight, more people are modifying their eating habits.  Going for cheap in this case, doesn’t always pan out, however.  Guess what a year’s worth of ramen noodles will do to your colon?  Drastic measures aren’t necessary when there are simple steps you can take to trim your grocery bill without sacrificing the health of your loved ones.

Start by identifying  what your larger expenditures are and see if there is any way of getting them cheaper.  Diapers were a large expense for us, so we switched to cloth.  Another budget buster was meat.  Now we buy a side of beef from a local farmer every year, which gives us a nice variety including the more expensive cuts, as well as excellent quality.  Yes, you need a deep freezer to store it all, but these make frequent debuts on craigslist, or even watch the sales for a good bargain on a new one.  It will pay for itself quickly!  Some items such as coffee or butter are cheaper from a warehouse store, so we buy in bulk and freeze until needed.  If they happen to be on an excellent sale at the local grocery store, all the better.

The thought of coupon clipping can trigger arthritis in some, but more companies are offering coupons which are loaded directly onto your frequent shopper card.  Check shortcuts.com, or Procter and Gamble’s e-saver to see if automatic coupons are available in your area.  Shortcuts will let you reload a coupon after you have redeemed it, so you can use it again if the coupon is for an item you buy weekly.  As with coupons from the Sunday paper, don’t spend extra money just to redeem a coupon.  Keeping a price journal will help you gauge which items are really a good buy and which sales are within a few cents of the everyday price.

Aside from the coupons, buying a Sunday paper with inserts can be an excellent investment.  Spend some time cross-checking the ads with your coupon list, and learn which stores in your area will double coupons.   I like to make a shopping list, and put a star next to the items for which I have coupons so that I don’t forget to use them when I get to the store.  If a needed item is on sale at a store where I don’t plan to shop, I mark that as well so that I can take the ad with me and get a price match at my grocery store.

It helps to learn when the various departments mark down shortdated items as well.  I often buy shortdated pork or chicken and freeze it.  Bread can also be frozen, and eggs generally stay fresh well past the “Use By” date.  Inspect carefully; our grocery store often sells shortdated bagged salads at half off, but that’s not such a great buy if half the salad is wilted.

Finally, check those marked down racks at the back of the store, or on the endcaps.  There are often markdowns which end up being free after a coupon!

When faced with the prospect of having two children in diapers again, suddenly the coupons and sales just weren’t cutting it anymore.  The thought of $80 per month going straight to city dump was downright depressing, so I began to investigate my options.  After all, disposable diapers are relatively new on the scene, so what have moms done for the past several millenia? (more…)

Saving electricity, gas, or water might not come immediately to mind when cutting back on expenses, but you might have more control over these ‘necessary’ bills than what you think. We all know the usual advice, like checking door and window seals, replacing filters, watching the thermostat, and unplugging unused appliances. Hopefully, you’ll find some more hints in this list which will help you see a difference in your usage! (more…)