I know that this one is easier said than done.  I lived the eating out several times a week.  Oh, and it wasn’t very long ago. I really wish I had figured this out a long time ago, but sometimes, I have to learn the hard way.  If I can teach and run a blog full time and still manage to cook several times a week, you can too!  I know it.

Here are 5 reasons cooking at home saves you money:

1. You don’t spend gas money or tip money. Let’s face it.  Eating out can be expensive.   But gas money is a real factor right now too.  If you eat out more than 3 times a week, I would venture to say you spend AT LEAST $5 extra in gas (probably more).  Plus, if you eat at a sit down restaurant, you have to leave a tip.  If you are eating at home, no one expects a tip beyond helping with the dishes, a compliment, or a hug.
2. You can buy your ingredients frugally.  You don’t know where the restaurant bought it’s ingredients or how much they spent.  If you cook at home, you have control over where your food comes from and how much it costs (somewhat). Need tips on saving on your groceries?  Check out my Savvy Shopper course.
3. You have leftovers and the food you buy goes to waste less often. If you really want to know, ask me how much of my stockpile expired between July-December.  I was sick, and I convinced myself one easy way out was to eat out more.  So much food that I already bought was wasted.  Leftovers are perfect for busy nights or lunches.  Taking a leftover meal to work or school for lunch is another way to save!
4. You aren’t tempted to splurge on dessert or an appetizer (or for those of you who drink, a really expensive adult beverage).  The last time I looked at a dessert price in a restaurant, I just about fell over.  I could make 3 whole desserts for the price of one dessert serving at a restaurant.  Beyond the saving money part, do we really need a big meal AND a dessert or appetizer?  The answer is no.
5. The meals we cook at home are generally healthier, more balanced, and better for you. This one depends on what your family eats honestly.  But since I have really changed my diet, I have a hard time finding things at restaurants that I can eat with a clear conscience.  If our bodies are healthier, that can save on future medical bills too!

Why do you choose to eat out or eat at home?  What can I do to help support those who want to cook at home more?

Do you have a Thrifty idea? Did you save a ton of money this week? Do you have a Thrifty deal you want to share? If so, please leave a comment or link up below!

Today we have a guest post from Katrina, a long time reader!  She is working really hard to save money on great foods for her family, and today she has some ideas to share with you! While I am trying to eat better and less processed foods all the time, I am just not sure I am ready to give up my ranch dressing and A1 steak sauce quite yet!  (And the best part is that Katrina assures me that is OK!)

I’m so excited Shelly has given me a chance to share with you on Thrifty Thursday. She is one of my blogging heroes!!

About six months ago, I got into a conversation with a friend who began challenging some of my ideas about “real” and “organic” foods. As a hardcore couponer, I had our family grocery shopping and budget figured down to the penny, so I assumed there was NO room in our budget for adjusting to more expensive foods just because of the “organic” hype. However, after some research and close examination of our food consumption, I skeptically decided to try to improve the way we ate, even if only a little bit. After all, I had mastered couponing. Couldn’t I master real foods on a budget too?

Now, I am writing a blog called The Poorganic Life, where I talk about keeping your food and your faith REAL so that you can be generous with others. We don’t eat “organically” per se, but rather what I call “poorganically.” The whole point of being “poorganic” is to eat unprocessed foods, save money, and then . . . give away your savings! Try it; it’s AWESOME.

Today, our food budget is only a little more than it was before, but I’ve cut out almost ALL processed foods. We aren’t extremists or purists by any means, but here are a few tips that I’ve found help us to stay thrifty and healthy.

1. Ditch processed foods. If you’re not sure whether or not your food is processed, follow the 5 ingredient rule. Foods with more than five ingredients (made by someone other than you) can be considered “processed.”  This includes meats with dozens of preservatives, margarine blends, salad dressings, and snack foods. Obviously, there are exceptions like trail mix, where the items aren’t processed, but generally speaking, the five ingredient rule is a good guideline for avoiding added sugar, salt, and preservatives.

WHAT?!?! I hear you saying. That eliminates at least half of the food I get with coupons! Save that money for buying single ingredients and PRODUCE.

2. Allocate at least one-third of your food budget for fruits and vegetables. Grow your food or buy it from a local farmer. If that isn’t an option (in winter), buy organic produce. If you can’t afford organic, buy conventional produce and wash it thoroughly.

Most grocery stores contain “local” produce that is at least from your state.  Even buying frozen or canned produce is better than filling up on processed foods.  In the winter I buy lots of inexpensive produce from a co-op or ALDI, which is not local, but is better than garbage food.

3. Throw away the processed food coupons. This will be VERY hard if you are a serious bargain hunter like I was. You will feel like you are throwing money right into the trash; however, you will actually be freeing up the time and money you need to find real food deals. If you don’t have the coupon for those items, you will probably not be tempted to buy the item.

4. Adjust the way you coupon. There ARE good coupons for many real foods, but it takes a while to learn the brands and costs. Be willing to adjust your buy prices, knowing that eliminating so many processed foods (even free or cheap ones) has created space for buying slightly more expensive REAL foods. Use Shelly’s coupon database to search for coupons for real foods which don’t necessarily go on sale. Save real food coupons for coupon promotions like Harris Teeter Super Doubles. Then stock up on real food essentials like organic peanut butter, oatmeal, rice, or Muir Glen organic tomato products.

5. Shop and coupon the pharmacies!! One area that you don’t want to coupon less is with your non-food items. Devote your couponing time and effort to getting lots of great deals on paper goods, cleaning supplies, personal hygiene products, diapers, and office supplies. Making the most of your savings at CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid, and office stores will provide a bit more cushion in your grocery budget for real food. Our food budget has increased about $30-40 a month, but I’ve made up about $20 of that by saving money at the pharmacy.

6. Buy from bulk bins. If you have access to a store that has bulk dry goods and spices, SHOP THERE! I shop at Earth Fare for all my dry goods and spices and get much better prices than I could get couponing for those items. I make homemade granola, bread, soups, and hummus all from items I get in the bulk bin. Spices are a fraction of the cost and you can get small amounts for the spices that you use infrequently.

I hope these tips encourage you to try eating real foods. You can find some more tips to Eating Poorganically at The Poorganic Life.

Do you have a Thrifty idea? Did you save a ton of money this week? Do you have a Thrifty deal you want to share? If so, please leave a comment or link up below!

Well, finally a topic that I have plenty of experience with!  Ways to save money when you are sick!

(I am not focusing on what you can do to prevent illness today, that will be another time!)

P.S.  I am not a doctor, so don’t construe this as medical advice.  These tips will simply help you save a little money when you or someone in your family gets sick.

1. Drink lots of water.  Almost any illness you have, you need plenty of water.   And the best part is that it is cheap or free!  This might be hard for you diet Coke addicts, but water is good for you anytime and especially when you are sick. (In most cases that is.)

2. Keep a supply of tissues.  I generally pay less than $1 for a really good box of tissues, and sometimes I can get them for free.  Nothing bugs me more than to have to pay full price for tissues!  Plus, it is no fun to go to the store when you are sick.  Find a spot in your house for storage, and keep a supply of tissues on hand.  Now you are prepared.  (Because you know when one person needs them, some others will probably follow.)

3. Rest.  It is cheap, free, and can help you get back on your feet sooner.  I know that this sounds like easy advice from a woman with no children.  I realize you moms out there aren’t always able to get the rest you need when you are sick.  But… try to go to bed a little earlier or sleep in a few minutes.  Rest helps your body heal, and you will be able to get back to your everyday routine soon.

4. Chicken soup, crackers, or soft foods can come from your stockpile.  Depending on what is wrong with you, you might need some special food to help you feel better.  It is much easier to get these from your stockpile vs. the store.  Match your foods to how you are feeling, and yes, I think a little comfort food can be in order when you are sick.  No, I don’t tell your husband I said it was ok to eat that half gallon of ice cream. 

5. Use coupons to get OTC medicines at rock bottom prices.  If you have to resort to taking some medicine to help you heal or relieve symptoms, it is better to have a little on hand that you bought really cheap.  That doesn’t mean you should have 10 bottles of Nyquil, and no one in your house uses it.  That means  you should keep 1-2 packs of the medicine your family uses most often on hand.  Rotate it out to ensure that it doesn’t expire.

Illness can be expensive!  What little tips have you found to save money, but still be comfortable and get well?

Do you have a Thrifty idea? Did you save a ton of money this week? Do you have a Thrifty deal you want to share? If so, please leave a comment or link up below!

I am really trying to focus on saving money for Thrifty Thursday, especially since we started the Erase Your Debt Series.  I have been really racking my brain to come up with some ideas to help you all save on your monthly expenses.

Top 5 Ways to Save On Phone Costs:

1. Ditch your home phone. The reality is that most phone calls that are important happen on a cell phone nowadays.  If you are paying for everyone in your family to have a cell phone, don’t pay the extra monthly cost to carry that home phone.
2. If you simply can’t ditch the home phone, go with Magic Jack, Vonage, or bundle your service with your cable company.  Seriously.  My local phone company is about the most expensive option out there. (ALWAYS shop around of course.)
3. Keep your “dumb” cell phone, if you still have one.   (Or whatever you call the opposite of a smart phone.)  Smart phones are expensive, and so is the monthly data fee.  If you don’t really need a smart phone, keep your older model or buy one of the few non-smart phone models out there.  It will save you a lot of money.
4. Don’t fall for unlimited texting, if you don’t need it.  I will be the first to admit that most teenagers with cell phones need unlimited texting.  Some adults I have met need it too.  However, many people would do fine with a smaller plan.  I get 500 texts a month for $5.  I never use that many.  Hubby sends very few texts. We figured out that each month he sends less than 50 we are saving, and that is all the time.  (Texts for him cost $.10 each.)
5. Set up blocks on your cell phone account.  Until I started texting, I actually blocked it on my phone.  That way I didn’t have to pay for those crazy wrong number texts everyone gets.  I imagine most of us have had unwanted charges on our phone bills.  Many times you can block users from ordering things or using certain features.  Contact your cell phone company for more details.

Do you have a Thrifty idea? Did you save a ton of money this week? Do you have a Thrifty deal you want to share? If so, please leave a comment or link up below!

Today I am going to talk about 2 ways to reduce your bills.  I want to encourage you to analyze your bills in two ways to help you get started on Erasing Your Debt.

1. Analyze your bills for items you don’t want or need anymore. I know that for a while we were paying $20 a month for a gym subscription that we weren’t even using any more.  It was billed to our checking account monthly, and because it was automatic, we didn’t think twice about it.

• Look for extra cable channels you don’t use (or cut cable entirely).
• Check your phone bill.  Any features you aren’t using? Do you really need a cell phone and a home phone?
• Make sure you aren’t paying for any subscriptions like gym, magazines, or movies that you aren’t using. (Or if you really need to cut back, maybe look for something you can give up.)
• Make sure you aren’t paying too much interest.  Interest rates have dropped.  I am not encouraging you to refinance to extend terms. But if you have a car at 6.99% for 42 more months, call a bank or two and see if they can beat that interest rate for the same term.  (Make sure the savings are worth your effort.)

2. Analyze your bills for mistakes that companies make.

• I was once charged a $20 tip on my card by a server at a restaurant.  I try to tip generously, but not that much!  If I had not watched my statement, I may not have realized.
• Sometimes fees are applied to our bills that aren’t agreed upon.  You can dispute these.  Once, the cable company charged me an installation fee after I had specifically asked if there was one.  I called and they took it off.
• If you are using your credit card AT ALL, look at your statement each month to be sure you know what you are paying for and who is charging you.
• If you get charged late fees, call the company immediately and pay them.  If you are a good customer, they will sometimes waive the fee.

Have you analyzed your bills lately?  Have you found a way to save you would like to share?

Do you have a Thrifty idea? Did you save a ton of money this week? Do you have a Thrifty deal you want to share? If so, please leave a comment or link up below!

The closer we get to the new year, the more we all start to focus on saving money, getting organized, and other resolutions.  Here are a few tips I need to follow to save  some money in January.  (Oh, and you might save some sanity and the Earth at the same time.)

1. Use your free samples.  I am guilty.  I have a drawer full of free beauty samples and other things that I haven’t used this year.  Sure, I like to save some for when I travel, but I also need to use some.  The whole point of requesting free samples is that you are getting something to try/use for FREE.  Join me in making January a month to clear out some of those samples.  Reach for them before you reach for your full sized items!  (Don’t have a drawer full?  Start requesting some!)

2. Use the last of everything (especially beauty items).  Guilty here too, but I inherited this one from my mama.  So I got it honest.  I have two bottles of body wash with less than an inch left in them.  I have been using a new bottle.  Time to use those up!  I do the same with candles, make-up, and lotion.  January is going to be my month to use up the last of the various items that I haven’t yet.  These things expired, and I am being wasteful letting them sit there.

3. Clean the little odds and ends out the freezer.  A frozen bowl of broccoli soup, some stuffed peppers, and 5 frozen meatballs.  What do those items have in common?  I found them all this week in my refrigerator’s freezer.   It is my goal in January to use up the little odds and ends I have.  I also have some beautiful frozen veggies from the farmer’s market this summer.  This is the month to be creative and use up the little items that could go bad, if I let them.

4. Hem those pants, mend the holes, and replace those buttons.  It gets dark early in the winter.  Sounds like the perfect time to repair some of those clothes that are in need of a little TLC.  Don’t let a loose hem make you give up your favorite pair of pants (talking to myself here…).   No need to buy a new coat when all your old(ish) one needs is a button sewn back on.  Save your money and learn to sew.

5. Books, movies, and magazines.  We have all collected some of these through the year.  Instead of going out to rent something new or buy a new book, reread (or watch) your favorite.   Clip your favorite recipes from the magazines and try them out.  Trade your favorite book with your friend for the week.  Save the money you might use for entertainment for warmer weather!!

Share your ideas for using what you have!!

Do you have a Thrifty idea? Did you save a ton of money this week? Do you have a Thrifty deal you want to share? If so, please leave a comment or link up below!

Even if you won’t do any of these ideas, don’t throw those Christmas/Holiday cards out.  See if a local school or church wants them first!!  I save my cards from this year for next year’s classes.

1. Let kids make new cards with them!  My students at school love to cut off the front and/or the message from the inside of the card.  The can glue it on construction paper, and they have a brand new card to give to a loved one.  I try to have a selection of cards that would be appropriate for any December holiday, that way the students can choose.

2. Use the Christmas cards to make ornaments.  Yesterday at school, we made 3-D shapes from Christmas cards.  The we glued on ribbons for the kids to take home an ornament.  Check out all these Google Images for more ideas.

3. Cut out Photo cards for scrapbooks or photo albums.  Don’t want to put a whole card in your family photo album?  Don’t be afraid to cut the card out and put it in!

4. Use your old cards to make new gift tags.   Check out this simple tutorial for how!  This is a way to recycle and save money on tags for all your gifts!

5. Make them into Tiny Gift Boxes.  Have you ever wanted to wrap a gift card or give it in a special package?  There are ideas and tutorials on this page about how to take your Christmas cards and make boxes!

What do you do with your Christmas cards each year?

Do you have a Thrifty idea? Did you save a ton of money this week? Do you have a Thrifty deal you want to share? If so, please leave a comment or link up below!

During the rush of this busy season, I wanted to encourage you to take time for others.  Each day I hear from readers, students, friends…  There are so many people struggling right now.  You might be one of them.

1. There is always someone worse off.  This one is for me.  I have been struggling health-wise lately.  But my life is not in danger.  I can make it through most days.  Although I am in pain, I am still able to work.  I need to remember and help care for those who aren’t as fortunate as me.

2. It doesn’t take much to be benevolent.  Invite someone to Christmas dinner.  Put a small gift into the Toys for Tots bin.  Give a food gift card to a struggling family.  Whether you can give $1 0r $100, your gift will help someone.

3. Keep your eyes peeled.  There are people in need all around us.  Watch for little ways that you can help others.

4. Give from your heart. Don’t give because you feel obligated.  Give because you care for your friends and neighbors.  A hug is free.  A phone call is free.  A visit to a nursing home only costs the tank of gas.

5. The tough one.  We aren’t always able to give from our abundance.  Sometimes we may actually need to give up something to help someone else.

Matthew 25:35-40

³⁵ for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; ³⁶ I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’
³⁷ “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? ³⁸ When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? ³⁹ Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ ⁴⁰ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’

Do you have a Thrifty idea? Did you save a ton of money this week? Do you have a Thrifty deal you want to share? If so, please leave a comment or link up below!

This one is an easy one to do, if you have planned ahead.  I know some of don’t always plan ahead though, so…

1. Buy paper, ribbons, bows, tags, etc. after Christmas for 75% off or more!

2. Use brown paper bags and decorate with pretty Christmas bows.

3. Order custom tags that can be used for a couple years (140 should last a couple years, right?).

4. Make your own bows from magazines.

5. Reuse gift bags (and/or paper) whenever possible.  My grandma is the queen of reusing wrapping paper.

6. Use reusable shopping bags as gift bags. (Or if  you can sew make one from scrap fabric!) Plus no tape needed!

7. Decorate your own paper!

Bonus Tip: Search for tape coupons before starting!  Grabbing tape at the last minute can be pricey!

Do you have a Thrifty idea? Did you save a ton of money this week? Do you have a Thrifty deal you want to share? If so, please leave a comment or link up below!

If you are like me, you have several Christmas parties to attend.  And you have a gift exchange gift (or 2) to buy for each one.  I always try to take gifts that I would like to receive, but rarely come home with anything I can use.  And buying 5-10 gift exchange gifts can really, really add up!!

I would LOVE to start a new tradition of donating that $5 or $10 to a favorite charity in honor of my coworkers, friends, etc.  Until that catches on, here are some tips to help you give nice, inexpensive gift exchange gifts.

1. Use that $10 gift card you earned.  I know that many of you have earned a $10 gift card at CVS recently or with Swag Bucks.  Gift cards are one of the most coveted gift exchange gifts I have seen.
2. Make a homemade food gift.  Pumpkin butter, fudge, cookies anyone?  If you are known for your cooking skills, a homemade gift from you will be a hit.  (Make sure you use this one with people you know well!)
3. Check your gift stockpile.  All you seasoned couponers out there know what I am talking about.  You probably have some great Bath & Body works deals stashed away.  Maybe you found a great picture or mirror way cheap on clearance.  If you like it, chances are someone else will too.
4. Create a mug or basket with stockpile items.  Make a hot cocoa kit, spa kit, or a candle basket.  Arrange them in a pretty way, tie a bow, and get ready for people to fight over your gift.
5. Offer your services.  Perhaps you baby sit. Maybe you cut hair.  How about a landscaper? If you can, make out a nice gift certificate for a gift exchange gift.  I know tons of parents who would take you up  on two hours of babysitting services (if they know you).

Need gifts for teachers or others in your life? Check out my post about teacher gift ideas!

Do you have a Thrifty idea? Did you save a ton of money this week? Do you have a Thrifty deal you want to share? If so, please leave a comment or link up below!