| The Holidays on One Income | |
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Even during the best of times it can be difficult trying to make ends meet on one income. And during the holiday season especially, saving a few cents here and there can make a big difference at the end of the month. In previous articles, our readers shared their frugal tips. This week, I would like to share more tips that parents have submitted. Thanks to everyone who has sent in their frugal hints!
I also discovered that if you use an empty milk carton to store your plastic grocery bags you can save money on small bags and have a neat storage container for them. You cut a medium slit on the side of the plastic milk container, stuff the plastic grocery bags in the top, put the lid back on the top and pull the bags out the slit.
From DD:
I used to buy fruit juice in cartons. I started buying the large juice containers from Costco. I dilute the juice in a sippy cup with water. When the large juice container is half empty I fill it with water and it is already diluted for the next servings. I have three small children; this cuts our juice bill down and is better for the children.
From Paula:
This is for stay-at-home parents with school-aged children. Call your local school board and see if they need cafeteria substitutes. Most schools are are in dire need of people to fill in for cafeteria employees, leaving them short handed when one of them takes a day off. All you have to do is fill out a few forms, have a criminal record check and be fingerprinted. Once your record comes back, you'll be on the list. This is a great job for parents who want to be stay-at-home parents, but could use a little extra money. I think you'll find the schools are very lenient about the times you can and cannot work. I, myself, cannot work before 7 in the morning, after my son gets on the bus and there has never been a problem with that. Plus, you will never work on observed holidays, weekends or during school vacations, totally eliminating the need for a babysitter! An extra bonus is the free meal you get while working.
From Lisa:
I save my plastic grocery bags and use as bathroom trash can liners. I also have saved the cans popcorn comes in at Christmas time and used them for the small trash cans in bathrooms or the spare bedroom.
From Cindy:
I do all my grocery shopping once a month and then do all my cooking in one day and freeze everything. We are a very busy household but we are all able to sit down to a family meal every night. It saves a lot of money because I'm not constantly running to the store for something for dinner. It also allows me more time with my family and less time in the kitchen. We've all been sick the last week and it was great to have a meal ready in the freezer - another plus.
From Dora:
My friend and I take turns bringing in lunches to share with each other at work. We'll bring anything from leftovers to just a can of soup that's been sitting in the pantry with a few crackers, chips, whatever's on hand that our families don't seem to be consuming. Or, the night before we'll just throw in a little extra to whatever we're cooking. We have found this to be an economical way of "buying lunches" and it's a nice time to just sit together, take a break and catch up on what's going on. The nicest part about it is we seldom end up throwing out food that is still good but our families are "sick" of.
From Patty:
I look at Big Lots, the Dollar Store, or Walmart and buy the largest (and nicest scented) bubble bath containers I can find to refill my liquid soap containers. I can usually find a 32 oz bottle for about a dollar. I fill the handsoap container about 2/3 full of the bubble bath and 1/3 full of water. Sometimes you have to thin the bubble bath before you pour it because it is so thick.
From Dana:
My tip is to buy large quantities of lean ground beef when it's on sale. When I get home I freeze some of it raw, for meatloaf, the rest I fry up with salt, pepper and onion, then separate it into freezer bags. When I need a quick meal it takes a couple of minutes to defrost the already cooked hamburger in the microwave. Then add seasoning for tacos, or sauce for spaghetti, or tomatoes and beans for chili. I always check the prices on the regular beef and the lean, cause sometimes the lean beef is actually cheaper per pound/kilo.
From Ann:
Empty toilet paper rolls are very useful for keeping electric cords organized in drawers. I use them for the cords for my hair dryers and curling irons, also the hand mixer among other things. Just fold the cord in half a few times and push through the toilet roll and it works just great.
From Jackie:
If you can't stand the taste of canned pumpkin and buy or grow your own, here is an easy way to peel those "monsters". I like the to use the long neck pumpkins because the seeds are all in the ball of the pumpkin. Anyway, slice the pumpkin into chunks and cook for 15 or twenty minutes. Place into cool water and peel. No more sticky residue on your hands and it peels so easy.
From Lynda:
One of my child's favorite meals are lunchables. Where I live these can be costly. So I make my own using pre-packaged meat, cheese slices and round crackers. Using an egg cup, I cut out circles; my seven yr. old and my grandchildren still love them.
I want to thank everyone for their tips and hints, and please keep them coming!
| More Reader's Frugal Tips |
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