All you hear about lately has to do with this economy and how the world is going to hell in a handbasket. For a while there, we thought we were immune to the financial turmoil but alas we are not. So we're being a bit more cautious lately.
Its definitely made me think about how I spend my money and think about my consumption in general. There was a while there, mostly just after the baby was born and I was on maternity leave, where I would think nothing of a day of errands and lots of purchases. Its not like I was making extravagant purchases but still I think there were lots of stupid trips for stuff we didn't need just for something to do. And don't even get me started on the online shopping habit I acquired. Sufficed to say, that's at bay for the time being.
So, like lots of people, I am being more mindful. Since I am a total Type A, borderline OCD individual, this had become an obsession of sorts. I am currently addicted to the following websites:
1) Hip2Save: This is a great blog for bargains, coupons, freebies, etc. Its updated constantly. My sister and I are thoroughly addicted.
2) Online coupon sites: Like this one. I also check the company websites. We try and drink/eat organic dairy products but that can get expensive. I just went to the Stonyfield Farm website to print out their coupons. So this is how I tackle weekly grocery shopping now. I make my grocery list, then I look at the supermarket flier, the Sunday paper coupons, and cross-reference that to my list. If I don't have a print coupon, I go online to look for one. This is a bit time consuming but let's face it, I don't have much of a life right now. Plus, I think this will go faster once I get better at it. By no means do I think that I can do this every week but for now its working. I saved $8 last week and $6 this week. And I'm not falling for my grandfather's method of grocery savings. He used to take a full day, driving from one supermarket to the next to get the deals. He never quite figured out that he was blowing all his savings in gas.
3) Freecycle.org: This site is run through yahoogroups. Its regional so each geographical area has their own (if its been set up). Its a free system to you can post things to give away (not a pay system like Craigslist). This week, I gave away a bunch of boxes and packing material. It saved me the trouble of breaking them down for recycling. And I had just read an article in the New Yorker that scared me. (You can read the abstract for free here.) We also gave away an extra lawnmover. Its a great way to keep things out of landfills. This is helping us to clean out the basement and attic that we've managed to fill in 4 short years. I've also found a couple of things on there including a baby booster seat. The challenge is to fight the urge to go for items just because they're free. Do I really need 200 CD jewel cases for a yet-to-be-determined craft project. NO!
4) Craigslist: I love Craigslist. {An aside: One of my favorite lines on Kath and Kim, which by the way is the most underrated TV show on right now, is when Kim says to Craig disgustedly "Ugh, your name is Craig. Why didn't you invent a list."} So everyone knows about Craigslist. I've sold a bunch of stuff there throughout the years. I take sick pleasure in scouring the basement for things to sell. Cory's tools are next. First I'll need to brush of the cobwebs and layers of neglect. At least they're not covered in sawdust or signs of use. Its cathartic to get rid of things that you don't need that others might use. Our best purchase yet on Craigslist was the bowling alley bench and scorer's table. It was from a seller who had bought it from our beloved alley, Lanes and Games, when they converted to electronic score keeping. My family has been bowling there for years. Its like going back in times and its one of the only places in MA that you can 10-pin bowl. We have yet to do anything with the bench and table but it will be a focal point in our house someday.
5) Consignment shops: There's a couple of great ones (Children's Orchard and KidtoKid) I go to for stuff for the baby. My sister has an 8 month old and I have a 13 month old so we are always on the lookout for deals. I don't think there's a need to buy new everything for them. I scored a great zebra jacket for my girl. I kind of bought it as a joke but then it fit her better than her thick winter jacket so she's been wearing it since. Its very J-Lo and totally inappropriate. But that's basically why I had a baby... to dress them up in silly outfits. I have yet to find a great second hand clothes store for me in my area. There's a good one near my sister so we go there sometimes. The best buy I ever got was at a yard sale in Maine 10 years ago... a vintage pair of cowboy boots. They were marked 50 cents but I talked them down to 25 cents. When I went off to college, I gave them to my sister. Biggest mistake of my life.
So that's what I'm doing to save a little cash lately.
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