Times Are Tough. How do you save money on the essentials when you are already cutting out every single extra?

Are you a Follower?-we only need 7 more to have that extra give away----WooooHooooo
Go Here for the details on this weeks GIVE-A-Way and become a follower-I don't bite. I'm really nice and like to have fun.

By the way, I called to make a hair appointment and she is on vacation till the 31st-Ughh. I am too scared to try someone else, she just recently had a baby and while she was on maternity leave I had one of the other gals do it and it has been a horrible hair cut.

Boy the white frame just barely made the top of the list so we will try it white and see what you all think. It's only paint-Right?

Times are tough and jobs are scarce. I know there are a lot of people out there without a job or savings, they've lost their homes and don't know what to do next. Here are some things that might help you out.

So you have already cut out every single extra. You never pick up a coffee any more and you don't have cable. You are staying home to cut on gas prices and even spreading out how often you get a hair cut, and then you do your own color and there still isn't enough at the end of the month. There are so many people who are so stressed out and I think we will all live different lifestyles than before this recession. Thankfully I am a super frugal gal any way and love the challenge of how to find new ways to save save save. Hey if I can save a little here and a little there, that leaves more for a fun little interior decorating project or a need that may arise. I used to speak at a ladies group, for our church, that meet twice a month and each time it was my responsibility to give all kinds of tips on how to save time and money, so I've done a lot of research and have had people offer suggestions that helped them get through tough times, as well.

Let me just stop here and say, if you are blessed enough to have a job and you know of someone who is struggling, pray for them and if you have the means to do so, go shopping and fill their pantry-you will bless their socks off. Most people would have a very tough time telling anyone they had a need like that but pray for God to show you peoples needs. We had a single guy over for dinner one time, he was out of work and really struggling. When he got ready to leave we loaded his car full of food and then I opened the frig and freezer and pulled out all the stuff I had gotten for him that had to stay cold till the very end. He was so appreciative. I am not saying this because I want you to think I am some great person. I am not-just a sinner saved by grace but God had laid him on our hearts and we wanted to bless him. I bet it felt like Christmas for him. Can you imagine the burden lifted off his shoulders that night, knowing he had food to eat for a month. My husband was telling me a story, he had watched on Kurt Warner (football player). Every time they go out to eat as a family, they look around the restaurant and decide, as a family, who they will pay for and they take care of the bill for them. Isn't that neat. They realize that every good and perfect gift comes from above and they are using it to bless other people. So here are a few tips I have acquired along the way.

If you have an ALDI'S grocery store near you, I would highly recommend it (I don't have one near me right now and miss it tremendously). If you don't have an Aldi's see if you have a Save-A-Lot or another cheaper grocery store version. Buy all you can from these type of stores and then go to Wal-Mart for the things you could not get at the discount place. Grocery Stores tend to be the most expensive. You will save a ton of money, if you follow my plan. I shop for all of our needs, for about a 10 day to 2 week span instead of every week-that saves some money. We don't make daily runs to the grocery store and we don't decide on a whim what sounds good for the evenings meals-everything is planned out ahead of time. If we need to run for milk or something like that we usually only have one adult go, without the kids. STICK to your list. Make out meal plans for every meal, every day of the week, so you don't forget things. I also shop with a list of every item-I typically buy, with the price I normally pay for it. I keep the lists in plastic protector sheets so if I am out and about and find a SALE, I know if I am really saving or not and if prices are on the rise I am aware. I write everything in pencil so
I can adjust prices, if they are rising. I have a link to a post I did about that pricing sheet for shopping. I list the size or quantity and price. If you would like me to e-mail you the download I have of it-let me know and I would be glad to e-mail it to you. I can get pretty close to knowing exactly what I will spend when I go grocery shopping. If our meal plans are too much I do adjustments before I leave the house. Some meals that cost very little and can be switched out if need be are: spaghetti, canned salmon, basic tacos are pretty low in price- if you don't start adding in all the extras, have a pancake breakfast dinner. As far as grocery stores go-make meal plans around the items in their weekly flyer-especially the front page. Those flyers are called LOSS LEADERS. They will take a loss on those items to get you in the door. Look at the shelves that are NOT eye level-they typically hold the best deals.

So I would look at my Loss Leader flyer and write down what I can get from the store that will save me money but go to the grocery store LAST. Go to your discount place first then Wal-Mart and finally the store. You will save a lot of money if you shop this way. If you find a deal 10 for $10 or some other fantastic price, you can save in the long run-stock up if you can. Check the coupon boards but only use a coupon if it will save you enough money to not buy the generic brand. Avoid Sam's or Costco's unless you are going in for milk etc and keep your blinders on-they know how to set the store up to get you to but lots of extras. Why do you think the pharmacy that anyone-even without a card can go to, is all the way across the store? And who needs a bag, the size of a bath tub, full of pretzels-Really-they will go bad before you can eat them all and if they don't you'll be so sick of pretzels, you won't eat another one for months. If you can get a group of people together to purchase items together and then break everything up into ziplock bags and split the price (of the membership as well as the food) then it might be worth a huge bag of pretzels.

I have a friend, and they both worked but still fell within the guidelines for government help. They could not have made it without that help. Their kids went to public school and got free breakfast and lunch at school (cutting her food bill), she was on WIC for all of her kids under 5 years of age and I know she told me they qualified for some money on food stamps. It is tough out there right now and if you just can not make it and don't have family or friends in a position to be able to help, pray and if you need to look at organizations who offer assistance, do so. Things will look up but keeping your family from being hungry will help relieve some of the stress.

I know there is also places like Salvation Army and Catholic Charities that will help with food and I think some bills. If you have a group like Harvesters, they will sometimes have a monthly pick up site and you can get some free items from them as well.

Check out www.angelfoodministries.com you order and pay for your food ahead of time and then you have a date that you have to go pick it up. It is usually at a church and you have to be there at the designated time but their food is cheaper and I believe they take food stamps. Some churches have food pantries to help people who are in need. I hope some of these tips help.

My plan is to get another post up today, that is an interior decorating project, so check back.

Have a great day ladies and I hope some of these tips help-whether you are in need or want to save some money so you can spread your grocery money and bless someone else in need.

xoxo,
Cheri