I am really needing to stay calm since this is the last full week of the month, and of course as is usual I gave myself way too many projects to try and finish. Most of the projects this month have been fairly large and there is hope that I will get a few more of the smaller ones completed yet.
It has been awhile since I shared any thrifty and frugal tips with all of you so I decided to share a few that I don't think (though one never knows as my mind seems to forget things) I have shared before.
Here goes.
1. Never buy anything at full price if at all possible. When it comes to big ticket items, we never pay full price. Always wait for a sale if possible. Now, saying that, I always end up paying full price for my milk and a few other basics. This is because in Canada milk prices (at least where I live) never go on sale, and bread flour rarely.
2. Invest your money into quality items that you use all the time. While I did get many of my appliances on sale, I bought the best that I possibly could. My bread maker was fairly expensive when I purchased it 10 years ago to replace a less costly one (that one broke down in 4 years) and use it at least 3 days a week. Same can be said for the toaster oven and other such items. My hand mixer is probably 30 years old, and I am thinking finally might need to be replaced so I am looking at sales to get the best quality possible for the lowest cost.
3. Avoid purchasing convenience food. By batch cooking one can have homemade convenience food.
4. Use any credit cards for the points and pay the card off every month.
5. I also use old technology as long as I possibly can. This is especially true with our phones. Heck as long as they work who cares if they don't have all the bells and whistles of the new ones.
6. It isn't that I love working on my budget, but I have found that paying attention to it and tweaking it where I can makes a difference.
7. Save your change, and any change you find on your walks. I do this and what we have saved does pay for our family reunion every two years.
Hope those help and there are a few new ideas.
Everybody have a wonderful evening.
God bless.
If it doesn't get done - it isn't the end of the world - there is next month. It'll be OK.
ReplyDeleteLove the tips - all so true. I do them all.
Good tips but mostly, I hope you can finish a project or two. Don't put too much pressure on yourself, there is always tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteMy food processor was a Christmas gift in 1989 from Bailey’s Dad when we were married and it’s still going strong after 24 years. I keep my phones until they no longer work. I just don’t see the need to replace something that works well. I also think paying attention to the budget helps you tweak it.
ReplyDeleteGood tips, Jackie. I never pay full prim and always shop the sales. I do spend a little more for local meat from the butcher but it’s been worth it. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI use reward points from my charge card to pay for big purchases whenever possible! I am charging an old phone to use to connect to Spotify and play music for our party this weekend. Old phones are great for playing music, storing pictures (and as a camera). Paying full retail? Not if I can help it either!
ReplyDeleteCanadian flour is made from hard wheat and has enough gluten to match bread flour in recipes. I stopped paying big prices for bread flour and use all purpose for my bread machine. If I add low gluten things like oats or whole wheat flour, I use the setting on my machine that gives a longer cycle. American all purpose flour is made from soft wheat and would not work this way.
ReplyDeleteYou may get lucky finding appliances at yard sales, thrift stores and Habitat for Humanity Restores.
I do all of these things and believe me they work!
ReplyDelete