The Frugal Lifestyle

[pajama]

Originally Posted by Diva

Bit, what a great idea with the magazine bin! I have let most of my magazine subscriptions go. Someone gave me Everyday Foods (Martha) and to support a school group, I ordered Gourmet. I can't throw those away.

I have learned to buy the store brand on most things. There are some brands I cannot however, because while the store brand of applesauce is just as good, the store brand of maple/brown sugar oatmeal is not. Sometimes a store brand is not a savings at all....and sometimes, the difference in price blows my mind....and I realize I've just been paying for their brand name!

I have found that I simply do my grocery shopping on a full stomach and have a defined list of what I need. I do less impulse shopping that way.

Also, I have found no shame in buying my groceries at Wal~Mart rather than Central Market. When I drive, I try to run all my errands in one big trip, rather than a bunch of small ones.

This is a wonderful thread..... <3

~Diva

Yep, much as I hate it, I no longer shop Publix, opting for Wal-Mart Great Value Brand. The difference in my food budget (with a 14y/o boy in the house) has been phenomenal! And you're right Diva, some things I haven't been able to tell any difference.

I also try to cook once or twice a week, big meals, grilling the meats whenever possible, and put together homemade "tv dinners" and freeze them. That way I have good food for work, the boy has quick, good meals, and I can share them with Mom when she doesn't feel like cooking. Plus cooking it all at once means the stove/cooling/heating energy is reduced slightly.

Great idea Bit for the boxes.

My roommate is moving out the first of the year and that's when I really plan to start purging. It'll be the first time in seven years we haven't shared a home.

A

[Diva]

Since it's just me, I cook what I like.....

When I first moved here, I bought a LOT of Lean Cuisines.....I thought ~ at the time ~ those were a GOOD thing for me....but they are SO loaded with sodium! So for the price of about 2 LC's, I can make a huge meatloaf ~ control the amount of salt ~ and have many more than 2 meals from it! The freezer is my friend! Also, I buy frozen bags o' veggies, rather than the canned. I find them to have better flavor. Of course, fresh is ALways best.



~Diva

[Lady Jewel]

Diva Ma'am...I have to watch my sodium and cholesterol so I watch the store ads and wait till ground turkey goes on sale. It can be used in any recipe requirirng ground beef and its wayyy healthier. Also, if you want low carb pasta, dreamfields makes a very very low carb pasta that tastes like the real deal and also has a $1.00 off coupon on their website

Originally Posted by Diva

Since it's just me, I cook what I like.....

When I first moved here, I bought a LOT of Lean Cuisines.....I thought ~ at the time ~ those were a GOOD thing for me....but they are SO loaded with sodium! So for the price of about 2 LC's, I can make a huge meatloaf ~ control the amount of salt ~ and have many more than 2 meals from it! The freezer is my friend! Also, I buy frozen bags o' veggies, rather than the canned. I find them to have better flavor. Of course, fresh is ALways best.



~Diva