31 Days: Day 30 - Recharging

If this is your first visit I welcome you to my little corner of the world! You might want to start at the introduction of this series. It explains what 31 Days of Change is, and has links to each day's post as they occur. Just click on the 31 Days to Slash Your Budget Painlessly button at the top of my sidebar on the right.

I've been using rechargeable batteries for my camera for some time now. But for everything else we have continued to use regular alkaline batteries. I guess it was the initial cost that kept me from investing in more batteries. But now that I've been able to save in so many other areas, I am going to order more rechargeables.

My favorite brand is Sanyo eneloop. They come pre-charged, have a very slow discharge rate, meaning they maintain 75% of their charge even after 3 years of non-use and they can be recharged up to 1500 times. They also last a long time even in my camera.

The first package I bought from Amazon included the charger and 4 AA batteries. There are different packages available. I am going to purchase a package of 8 AA batteries that include a storage case for $20.45 (free shipping) and a package of 4 AAA for $9.35 (including shipping). If you average that out it comes to $2.47 per battery.

About the best deal I've gotten on regular batteries within the last year, is 9.99 for 16 Walgreen brand batteries, which averages .62 cents per battery. After 4 uses, the rechargeables will pay for themselves. Everything after that is savings.

These batteries are supposed to recharge up to 1500 times. Let's just say they only last 1200 recharges. Even at that, my savings would theoretically add up to $744 per battery. Multiply that by 16 batteries (I already have 4), and that's $11,904 over the life of the batteries. Say what?!!! I should have gone all rechargeable a long time ago.

I'm pretty sure I'll never have to buy more AA or AAA batteries in my lifetime. I also know I wouldn't use that many batteries in the rest of my life. When my kids were young, with more battery operated toys, I used far more batteries than I do now. I probably go through 60 AA and AAA batteries a year. Even so, rechargeables will save me about $37 per year or $3.08 per month.

If you use more batteries, and/or buy name brand batteries, especially in small packages of 4, which run around $5 these days, you could save considerably more than that.

If you are benefiting from this series, I’d love it if you would grab my button from the top of my sidebar.  I will be back with another money saving tip tomorrow.  I will keep up a running tally of my savings at the bottom of each new post. Just scroll down to the bottom to see.  Thanks for stopping by. I hope you'll be back!

My tally so far:
$4936.82/year
$411.40/month

31 Days: Day 29 - Homemade Gifts (Including Cool Ideas!)

If this is your first visit I welcome you to my little corner of the world!  You might want to start at the introduction of this series.  It explains what 31 Days of Change is, and has links to each day's post as they occur.  Just click on the 31 Days to Slash Your Budget Painlessly button at the top of my sidebar on the right.

Have you discovered Pinterest yet? It is one of the top three sites I visit when I log onto my computer everyday. Although if you are not careful, you can waste hours browsing Pinterest, it is also a great tool and an excellent source for homemade gift ideas.  Here are some ideas I've found:

Hershey Kisses in a Wisk
for that Christmas Dinner Host

Source: todaysfabulousfinds.blogspot.com via Deborah on Pinterest

Tear off Shopping List for the Busy Mom

Source: u-createcrafts.com via Deborah on Pinterest

Cookies in Wrapped Pringles Can for that Teenage Nephew

Source: jengrantmorris.blogspot.com via Deborah on Pinterest

Flavored Sugars for that Special Cook

 

Source: ohweddings.net via Deborah on Pinterest

Headband for that Sweet Little Niece

Source: Uploaded by user via Deborah on Pinterest

Scrapbook Paper Coasters for Anyone

Source: thecottagehome.blogspot.com via Deborah on Pinterest

Stenciled Onsie For the New Baby Boy

Source: google.com via Deborah on Pinterest

Ruffled T-shirt Dress for the Young Fashion Diva

Source: sumossweetstuff.blogspot.com via Deborah on Pinterest

Sisal Wrapped Bowl filled With Fruit for Anyone

Source: centsationalgirl.com via Deborah on Pinterest
 

DIY Photo Canvas for Dad

Source: bluecricketdesign.net via Deborah on Pinterest

Log Carrier for Dad

Source: thehappyhousewife.com via Joe Lindsey on Pinterest

Heating Pad for Grandpa or Grandma

Source: tipjunkie.com via Melissa on Pinterest

Leather Bracelet from a Belt for Teenager

Source: themayfly.com via Deborah on Pinterest

Decorated Flip Flops for any Female

Source: tracys-trinkets-treasures.blogspot.com via Deborah on Pinterest
 

Vinyl Decorated Candle for Mom

Source: houseofhepworths.com via Deborah on Pinterest

Fabric Covered Magnetic Board for Grandma

Source: jaimelyn11.blogspot.com via Deborah on Pinterest

Although we will still buy many of our Christmas gifts this year, I've decided to make at least one item for everyone on our list. It will save about $120 of our Christmas budget this year.   

If you are benefiting from this series, I’d love it if you would grab my button from the top of my sidebar.  I will be back with another money saving tip tomorrow.  I will keep up a running tally of my savings at the bottom of each new post. Just scroll down to the bottom to see.  Thanks for stopping by. I hope you'll be back!

My tally so far:
$4899.82/year
$408.32/month 

31 Days: Day 28 - Hairway Robbery

If this is your first visit I welcome you to my little corner of the world! You might want to start at the introduction of this series. It explains what 31 Days of Change is, and has links to each day's post as they occur. Just click on the 31 Days to Slash Your Budget Painlessly button at the top of my sidebar on the right.

I have 3 boys...well...technically 1 husband and 2 boys.  Haircuts used to cost us a small fortune.  I don't even know what they charge anymore, but we were spending at least $30 a month in haircuts...not including me.  Now I imagine it would be more like $45 or more.

PunjabiGraphics.com | Funny Cat | Forward this Picture

Finally I decided to try my hand at cutting my own man/boys hair.  I invested in a set of clippers and proceeded to weed-wack my oldest son's hair and add 2 "parts" to my hubby's hair that he'd never had before!  I had to take Tyler to get his hair fixed, which ended up being buzzed (could have done that myself!)  Soooo...I put down the clippers, watched a bunch of videos on You Tube and switched to scissors.

Fortunately my boys were little and very forgiving.  I thought hubby would never let me near his hair again, but he was a good sport about it.  I started on the youngest and cut a simple style and didn't do too bad.  By the time I got to hub's I was practically an expert.  Each time I cut their hair I got better at it.  Everyone of them has very different hair.  I still use my clippers for trimming so they were not a waste of money.

Recently my oldest son needed a haircut.  I was very busy with canning, homeschooling and some projects, so I kept putting him off.  Finally he said that he would go get his haircut in town because he knew I was really busy, but he would rather not because he liked the way I cut it.  Well don'tcha know I got out my scissors and gave that boy a haircut then and there.  After a compliment like that, how could I not?

You can save big cutting your own families hair.  I used to just trim my own mid-length hair, but now I get it styled by a friend for very reasonable amount.  Based on what my friend charges per haircut, I save at least $45 a month, or $540 a year.

Here are a few You Tube videos to help you get started.

Here is a video for using a new type of scissor that I would like. The video shows basically how I cut my guys hair too.

Here's another product that looks great, especially for girls hair. I've don't own, nor have ever used it, so I can't comment on the quality or use of the product.

If you are benefiting from this series, I’d love it if you would grab my button from the top of my sidebar. I will be back with another money saving tip tomorrow. I will keep up a running tally of my savings at the bottom of each new post. Just scroll down to the bottom to see. Thanks for stopping by. I hope you'll be back!

My tally so far:

$4779.82/year
$398.32/month

31 Days: Day 27 - Lazy Sunday Meals

If this is your first visit I welcome you to my little corner of the world! You might want to start at the introduction of this series. It explains what 31 Days of Change is, and has links to each day's post as they occur. Just click on the 31 Days to Slash Your Budget Painlessly button at the top of my sidebar on the right.

We used to eat fast food a lot on Sundays after church. By the time we get out and arrive home, everyone was starved, and I didn't feel like cooking. In fact I don't cook at all on Sundays. It's my day of rest...from cooking at least!

Our church now has a fellowship hour after church where different teams prepare a light luncheon. It is just enough for my husband and myself, that we usually don't even need more for lunch.

Now, the rule at our house is that you fend for yourself on Sundays (unless we have guests). There is always a jar of peanut butter, lunchmeat, or leftovers. Sunday evening is snack night. Again we forage and usually end up with popcorn, ice cream or leftovers.

A meal at a fast food joint costs our family anywhere from $15.00 - $25.00. At an average of $20 per visit, even 2 times per month saves us $40/month or $480/year.

If you are benefiting from this series, I’d love it if you would grab my button from the top of my sidebar. I will be back with another money saving tip tomorrow. I will keep up a running tally of my savings at the bottom of each new post. Just scroll down to the bottom to see. Thanks for stopping by. I hope you'll be back!

My tally so far:

$4239.82/year
$353.32/month

31 Days: Day 26 - Breakfast Anyone?

If this is your first visit I welcome you to my little corner of the world! You might want to start at the introduction of this series. It explains what 31 Days of Change is, and has links to each day's post as they occur. Just click on the 31 Days to Slash Your Budget Painlessly button at the top of my sidebar on the right.

Another way to reduce the amount of meat you eat is to have breakfast for dinner.  It's certainly not a new idea.  I just have never done it.  Eggs are still one of the cheapest sources of protein (next to beans) that you can buy.  My family won't touch beans, so eggs it is.  Whether it's an egg casserole, scrambled eggs or fried eggs, serve them with pancakes made with a homemade mix and you've got a very cheap meal.  Two of my kids also don't like eggs, but they love pancakes (which has egg in the mix ;). 

For my family (4 during the school year/5 in the summer) I can feed them with about 8 eggs.  Currently eggs for are about $1.30.  However, I usually can find eggs for $1.00 on sale, and when I do, I stock up.  Eggs will last for weeks in the refrigerator as long as the temperature is kept between 35- 40 degrees.  So as a replacement for meat, 8 eggs cost me .67 cents.  A pound of meat would cost me anywhere from $1.60 - $2.50 per pound.  I don't buy anything more expensive.  The average is $2.05 and I use an average of 1 1/2 pounds per meal (more for roasts, less for spaghetti)  so I could save an average of $2.40 per meal over using meat.  Having breakfast for dinner once a week will save me about $10.40/month or $124.80/year.

If you are benefiting from this series, I’d love it if you would grab my button from the top of my sidebar. I will be back with another money saving tip tomorrow. I will keep up a running tally of my savings at the bottom of each new post. Just scroll down to the bottom to see. Thanks for stopping by. I hope you'll be back!

My tally so far:
$3759.32/year
$313.28/month

31 Days: Day 25 - Saving Face

If this is your first visit I welcome you to my little corner of the world! You might want to start at the introduction of this series. It explains what 31 Days of Change is, and has links to each day's post as they occur. Just click on the 31 Days to Slash Your Budget Painlessly button at the top of my sidebar on the right.

I'm at the age where I look in the mirror, put my fingers on my temples, and pull up to see what I used to look like. I have always had oily skin, which I think has held off the aging process a bit. People always tell me I look younger than I am, but time marches on and it's beginning to look like it marched all over my face!

Even at my age I still have problems with acne now and then. Many of the skin care systems aimed at old ladies women my age and older, cause my skin to break out.  I recently bought a two-week sample skin care regimen from Avon to try, called Anew Ultimate, for around $25, I think.  To buy the full size products would cost $95.  It doesn't say how long it would last, but three of the jars have 1.7 oz each in them.  I'm thinking two months tops.  It made me break out.  Gee I feel so young again...acne days are here again!

Don't get me wrong, I love Avon's products most of the time.  I had been without an Avon rep for years, so when I found one I went a little nuts the first couple of orders.  But whether it's Avon, Olay, Mary Kay, or Loreal, skin care products are expensive!  And I'm a one product kind of girl.  I really hate having to apply two or three or more products.

Because of my tendency for break-outs, I am still using Clean & Clear to wash my face, but it also really dries my skin out.  I can hear the woman at the make-up counter now..."So you want something, that will clean off make-up, dry up the acne, moisturize the rest of your face, and reduce elephant skin wrinkles, all in one product. " If I've shown restraint and she is still standing at the end of that, I would reply..."For $95, why yes...yes I would."

I recently read about a homemade skin cleaner on Pinterest.  It consists of two or three ingredients: extra virgin olive oil and castor oil, with a little tea tree oil for acne if you like.  I had the last two and ordered a 16 oz. bottle of NOW foods castor oil from Amazon for $7.35.  My olive oil was around $4.00 for a 16 oz. bottle.  I used 3 parts castor oil to 1 part olive oil (recommended for oily skin).  You'll have to go read about it at Simple Mom. There are other oils you can use too, and different recommendations for different skin types.

I will be totally honest and tell you I would personally never pay anywhere near $95 for skin care.  But even if I don't have to buy my normal cleanser or moisturizer anymore,  I will easily save $6.00 a month.  If you do purchase more expensive face cleaners, you could stand to save a lot if this works for you.  It's worth a try.  I can tell you my skin feels amazingly soft after washing, instead of feeling like it's going to crack if I smile.  I haven't used it long enough to make a complete judgement yet, but the early results have me smiling...without cracking!

If you are benefiting from this series, I’d love it if you would grab my button from the top of my sidebar. I will be back with another money saving tip tomorrow. I will keep up a running tally of my savings at the bottom of each new post. Just scroll down to the bottom to see. Thanks for stopping by. I hope you'll be back!

My tally so far:

$3634.52/year
$302.88/month

31 Days: Day 24 - TV for Free? Almost!

If this is your first visit I welcome you to my little corner of the world! You might want to start at the introduction of this series. It explains what 31 Days of Change is, and has links to each day's post as they occur. Just click on the 31 Days to Slash Your Budget Painlessly button at the top of my sidebar on the right.

Remember the good old days when as long as you had an antenna, you paid nothing to watch your own TV?   Of course there were far fewer channels, but you didn't pay a dime for those channels.

We had a cable package, which included our TV, internet and phone. At first it was about $100 or so. After the first year, the bill took a jump and started climbing. We eventually locked in for 1-2 years and were paying a total of $147 a month. Our locked in rate expired and we had to decide if we wanted to lock in again at $160. Are. you. kidding. me?

I looked into Roku, a company that manufactures little black boxes, not for aircraft, but for your TV. Basically you choose your box, plug it into your TV, follow the easy instructions for connecting to your wireless router, and start watching. You can also get the most expensive box if you want an ethernet port for wired internet connection.

There are 3 Roku boxes to choose from. We chose the mid priced one. It seemed to fit our needs best and cost us $79, about the same amount we were paying for one month of the TV portion of our cable bill. There are no monthly fees with Roku, unless you decide to add Netflix or some other paid channels.

It comes with several channels already on, and you can add more from the channel store. There are some paid channels, like Netflix, which we were already subscribed to anyway.

Another channel we will probably add is Hulu Plus, for $7.99 a month. Although you can watch Hulu on your computer for free, with Hulu Plus, you can watch it on your TV, and it has more channels. We are going to try the free week to see how we like that. We've barely scratched the surface of the programming available.

Deciding to cut our cable TV out was a pretty drastic move for us. Not that we are couch potatoes, but we have our favorite shows, and it's hard to make changes. We've had our box for about three weeks, and although it took some adjustment, we are liking it.

It may not be for everyone. For instance you can't just sit down and watch the evening news. But we rarely watched our local news, and we can watch our favorite national news channel online for free. We are not sports fans, but I don't think you can watch live games, however, I could be wrong about that.

You can check it out Roku.com (At the time of this writing, I am/was not being compensated by Roku in any way. I may in the future become an affiliate because I really like the product.)

Cutting our cable TV saved us $80 a month. We already had netflix for movies, so I am not counting that. We may add Hulu Plus for 7.99, but currently are saving $80/month or $960 per year!

If you are benefiting from this series, I’d love it if you would grab my button from the top of my sidebar. I will be back with another money saving tip tomorrow. I will keep up a running tally of my savings at the bottom of each new post. Just scroll down to the bottom to see. Thanks for stopping by. I hope you'll be back!

My tally so far:
$3562.52/year
$296.88/month

31 Days: Day 23 - I'm Floored!

If this is your first visit I welcome you to my little corner of the world! You might want to start at the introduction of this series. It explains what 31 Days of Change is, and has links to each day's post as they occur. Just click on the 31 Days to Slash Your Budget Painlessly button at the top of my sidebar on the right.

Several years ago we put in laminate wood floors in our kitchen and living room. I later regretted it as every little spot showed. I couldn't use just any old cleaner. The manufacturer specified laminate floor cleaner, or vinegar and water. I tried the latter, but it left water spots, so I had to clean and then wipe dry with a towel on my hands and knees. Just cleaning one room left me tired!

I decided to buy some laminate cleaner. The price varies depending on the brand, but Home Depot carries Zep Hardwood and Laminate floor cleaner, in a 32 oz spray bottle, for $4.98. It worked, but I could easily go through a bottle a month. I decided to try to make my own and found a recipe online. This was several years ago, so I have no idea where it came from.

I loved it! It works very well, is super cheap to make and I use it on all my hard floors now, eliminating the need for other floor cleaners. Here is the recipe:

2 Tablespoons ammonia (not sudsy)
1/2 Cup rubbing alcohol
1/2 teaspoon dish soap
few drops of essential oil for smell (optional)
water

Use a funnel to pour the first 3 ingredients into an empty 32 ounce spray bottle. Add water to fill gently. You don't want to create a lot of suds. Once filled, replace lid and shake to mix. Spray directly on your floor and mop clean. I use a Swiffer mop with my own rags attached.

It costs about .27 Cents to make versus $4.98 for store bought cleaner. Each bottle saves me $4.71. Since I use about 1 bottle a month, I save $56.52/year.

If you are benefiting from this series, I’d love it if you would grab my button from the top of my sidebar. I will be back with another money saving tip tomorrow. I will keep up a running tally of my savings at the bottom of each new post. Just scroll down to the bottom to see. Thanks for stopping by. I hope you'll be back!

My tally so far:
$2602.52/year
$216.88/month

31 Days: Day 22 - Rolling in the Dough

If this is your first visit I welcome you to my little corner of the world! You might want to start at the introduction of this series. It explains what 31 Days of Change is, and has links to each day's post as they occur. Just click on the 31 Days to Slash Your Budget Painlessly button at the top of my sidebar on the right.

Once again, I did not have a post for Sunday. Are we sensing a pattern here? It seems I am destined not to post on Sundays. Maybe there is a reason for that...hmmm.  I will make up the missing posts though...that is if I can come up with enough ideas! I admit I am running out.

Today I want to talk about dough...bread dough that is. I have always hated making bread. I hate to knead and my bread always falls flat. I stink at making bread. Now baking cookies, cakes, pies...that I can do well. But I decided I'm going to face my nemesis and win.

The bread we buy cost us about $2.00 a loaf and we generally go through two loaves a week for sandwiches. At $4.00 per week that is costing us $208 per year. That's my motivation.

Recently I purchased Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day.  You can buy it on Amazon starting at $13.99.  You can also visit the authors' website for tips and updates here.

.

There are many different dough recipes in it. They are "wet" doughs that you keep in the refrigerator and break off a piece when you want to bake a loaf of bread. I've tried one recipe for the dough so far and it was good. There are three recipes I plan to try for Soft American-Style White Bread, Light Whole Wheat Bread, and Crusty White Sandwich Loaf.  The Soft American White recipe would cost me .49 cents a loaf, saving me $1.50 a loaf, $3.00 a week, and $156 a year. 

What I love about these breads is that you do not knead them.  Now that is right up my alley!  You mix them up in a 5 - 6 quart container with a lid, pull of a hunk when you want to bake a loaf, shape it and let is rise according to the recipe, then pop it in the oven.  The doughs take just a couple minutes to stir together, and about 5 minutes or less to prepare for baking...so simple! 

Sorry I haven't pretested these, but it's been a little crazy lately.  I will write a post when I have tried them...soon I promise :)

If you are benefiting from this series, I’d love it if you would my button from the top of my sidebar. I will be back with another money saving tip tomorrow. I will keep up a running tally of my savings at the bottom of each new post. Just scroll down to the bottom to see. Thanks for stopping by. I hope you'll be back!

My tally so far:  (Whoo hoo!  I just exceeded my goal of saving $200 a month!)

$2546/year
$212.17/month

31 Days: Day 21 - Driving Miss Debbie

Do you consider yourself a good driver?  How about a frugal driver...a what?  Can you actually drive frugally?  I found out that you can.  We have this neat feature on our van that lets me see how many miles per gallon (MPG) I am getting at any moment.  It also keeps track of the average MPG over time.

You can tell this is an old picture.  No, not by the style of clothes or hair, but because she is actually looking at the gas pump and smiling! 

A few months ago the average MPG on our van was 23.4.  Not too shabby, but I wondered if we could do better.  I read, and my daughter confirmed from chemistry or math class, that the best gas mileage can be had at 45 miles per hour.  I checked it out on my van, and it seemed like it did do a little better than at 55 and especially at 60 or more.

Confession time - I am a bit of a lead foot.  I use my cruise control for a reason people!  It seems I'm always in a hurry and running a tiny bit behind.  We live out in the country, with a 15 minute drive to town.  I take a less traveled road to town, so I thought I'd test it out a bit.  When I had no one behind me that would be irritated by my leisurely pace, I drove at 45 mph.  Going up hill it used more, of course, and going down it would read up to 99 MPG, which confirmed what my mom had said once, that taking your foot off the gas and coasting downhill uses almost no gas...there is such a thing as a free ride!

I also started coasting in town as much as possible, like when I see a red light ahead, I take my foot off the gas and coast to the light.  Coasting uses very little gas. 

Whenever someone is behind me, I drive the speed limit of 55 though, and even at that, the gas mileage is better than at 60 MPG.  I've watched that average MPG over time go up, until now it is at 24.8 which is up 1.4 MPG.  That may not sound like much, but over a years time, at current gas prices, it will save us about $102.  Not too shabby.

 I realized a couple things too.  One, driving 10 mph slower only takes me 2.5 minutes longer to drive to town. With just a little more forethought, I can leave a little sooner, and not worry about being late. Two, it gives me a little bit more down time (driving in the country is relaxing).  I found myself noticing my surroundings more.  When I'm not barreling down the road, worried I'll be late, I can enjoy the fall colors, or the brilliant blue sky.  I'm also more relaxed.  Constant hurrying is tiring.  An added bonus is that I'm praying more during that time...eye's open of course!

If you are benefiting from this series, I’d love it if you would grab my button from the top of my sidebar.  I will be back with another money saving tip tomorrow.  I will keep up a running tally of my savings at the bottom of each new post. Just scroll down to the bottom to see.  Thanks for stopping by. I hope you'll be back!

My tally so far:   (I am almost at my goal with 9 more posts to go!)
$2390/year
$199.17/month

31 Days: Day 20 - You Light Up My Life

If this is your first visit I welcome you to my little corner of the world! You might want to start at the introduction of this series. It explains what 31 Days of Change is, and has links to each day's post as they occur. Just click on the 31 Days to Slash Your Budget Painlessly button at the top of my sidebar on the right.

Today I painted around trim in the sunroom at my parents house all day. I have a wedding tomorrow, church Sunday morning, and more painting Sunday afternoon. On that note my next two or three posts will be short and sweet and most likely point you elsewhere.

Today's savings is lighting.  I'm sending you back to the Saving Energy site.  There is a calculator where you can figure out how much you can save with compact fluorescent bulbs over incandescent, based on your electric rate, how many bulbs, and how many hours you use them.  I tried to average my use, as we don't use every bulb in the house all the time.  My savings is around $17/month or $204/year. 
  
If you are benefiting from this series, I’d love it if you would grab my button from the top of my sidebar.  I will be back with another money saving tip tomorrow.  I will keep up a running tally of my savings at the bottom of each new post. Just scroll down to the bottom to see.  Thanks for stopping by. I hope you'll be back!

My tally so far:
$2288/year
$190.67/month

31 Days: Day 19 - Good for a Cold & Good for Your Budget

If this is your first visit I welcome you to my little corner of the world!  You might want to start at the introduction of this series.  It explains what 31 Days of Change is, and has links to each day's post as they occur.  Just click on the 31 Days to Slash Your Budget Painlessly button at the top of my sidebar on the right.

While the jury is still out on whether chicken soup can help a cold, it definitely can help your budget! Actually many types of soup are very frugal. Soup can stretch a pound of meat out for two meals or more. A pound of meat will barely feed our family for one meal.

Considering that meat is usually the most expensive part of a meal, it only makes sense to stretch it as far as you can. Of course you can stretch it in many casseroles too, but for my family, casseroles, lasagne, basically meat mixed in with noodles or vegetables doesn't fly. I love them, and my husband likes some of them, but my kids are the worlds pickiest eaters. That's a whole other story. We tried everything...don't even want to go there!

My kids don't like many soups either, but chicken soup is good for 4 out of 5 of us. Other soups that my hubby and I like are chili and Spanish hamburger soup (carrots, onions, mushrooms in a tomato sauce base).

Chicken soup is super economical for us. Just tonight we had it for supper. I boiled the bones, with bits of meat still on them from when I cut a 10 lb. bag of chicken breasts off the bones. I had frozen the bones until I was ready to make soup. There was enough meat from that to fill an 8 ounce cool whip container. It all went back in the soup, but I made a nice big pot of it. That meat would have been thrown out with the bones otherwise, so really the meat was a freebie. (I actually used to throw that out!) The chicken broth was also free, compliments of the bones.

Even if you bought boneless chicken breasts, cooked it and chopped it up, you could use about half the meat you usually would eat. And for vegetable lovers, go meatless. The amount you save just depends on your families tastes and whether you use the bones or not.

Making a frugal soup 4 times a month will help with your bottom line. Since I spend about $2.79 per pound for hamburger, and $0.99 per pound for bone-in chicken breasts (I would need about 2 pounds of this chicken to feed my family if I just baked it), I estimate I would save $9.60 per month or $115.20 per year.

If you are benefiting from this series, I’d love it if you would grab my button from the top of my sidebar.  I will be back with another money saving tip tomorrow.  I will keep up a running tally of my savings at the bottom of each new post. Just scroll down to the bottom to see.  Thanks for stopping by. I hope you'll be back!

My tally so far:
$2084/year
$173.67/month