Best laid plans. . .

The month of February was shaping up to be a relatively good one, financially. Meaning that I was going to send more of my hard-earned dollars to pay down my student loan and/or my second mortgage.

Then on Friday, I ended up spending over $500 at the vet with a sick cat. After tests and more tests, they still don't know why she was power-vomiting last week. However, after purchasing some really, really expensive food, I think my allergic cat is finally on the mend. Unfortunately, my credit card bill has now expanded to match the frustration I was feeling last week as I cleaned up the floor multiple times.

Sigh.

I know that I did the right thing since my cat is like family. Where's the limit, though? If she were still throwing up (and I don't know yet if we're really out of the woods), I'm sure the veterinarian would have suggested even more expensive tests (an ultrasound was next on the list). I love my cat, but I'm just not sure I'm ready to spend thousands of dollars on tests and treatments that may or may not be helpful.

I've been feeling sorry for myself for several reasons lately, and this last weekend just about sent me over the edge. Then this morning I listened to an incredibly upbeat woman on the Max (yes, I eavesdrop regularly) talking to an acquaintance about how she's been 'clean' (i.e. off drugs) for six months, she has a job, she has a house, she's taking care of a family member, and she's trying to get her child back. And it hit me that even though I'm feeling overworked and underpaid and like I just don't have enough time for fun, my life is fairly cushy. I have four jobs. I can pay all of my bills and then some. I'm healthy. I can afford to pay $500 at the veterinarian because I still have an emergency fund.

Time to stop whining.

5 frugal cold remedies. . .

As I've been battling a cold for what seems like weeks now, I recently trolled the internet looking for low-cost ways I could make myself feel better. Since my grocery budget is so tight this month, I can't justify paying $6 to $10 for an assortment of cough syrups and pills. So what can I do, with items that I might have in my cupboards already?

• Drink ginger tea. Slicing some fresh ginger and boiling it in water makes for a unique tea that will also help reduce the pain of a headache. The natural properties in the ginger will relax the blood vessels in the head and activates natural pain relieving chemicals in the brain. Added benefit is that it can help with upset stomach. I don't have any fresh ginger, but I do have ginger and lemon tea, as well as some ginger in a jar that I use for stir fry.
  
• Drink honey and lemon. This one is as old as the hills; I've been drinking lemon tea with loads of honey for weeks, and the warmth of the tea helps open my sinuses, while the honey is soothing on my throat. I confess that I've also just eaten a spoonful of honey straight from the jar, it feels so good.
• Gargle with apple cider vinegar. I happen to have this in my cupboard already. I mixed one part apple cider vinegar with one part water, and gargled to my heart's content. Apparently, it's important to allow a bit of the cider to drip down the throat to reduce pain and inflammation.
• Take a hot bath. This one's easy for me; I love hot, steamy baths. This helps my aching muscles and the steam also helps with my congestion.
  
• Make some chicken soup. I did this a week or so ago, and surprisingly enough, researchers have found that this old remedy actually does some good! Apparently, it acts as an anti-inflammatory and it helps speed decongestion.

So there you have it, some budget-friendly ways to make yourself feel better when you're in the midst of a winter cold. Of course, the best advice of all is to simply prevent a cold---and prevention is even cheaper than the remedies listed above! In fact, many of them are free!

• Wash your hands.
• Get enough sleep.
• Eat lots of fresh vegetables. whole grains, and fruits.
• Try Vitamin C.
• Get some (reasonable, for you) exercise.

Frugal soup. . . .

I apologize for the blog silence over the past week, folks. I'm battling a cold, and so far the cold is winning! While stuck with the sniffles, I've been putting together my December zero-based budget results, and it's not pretty. Although it appears that I've managed to stay within my budget somehow, as you'll see tomorrow when I post it, I seem to have had a little too much fun last month!

In the meantime, I've been thinking of ways I can further reduce my grocery bills (another area that is a bit out of control these days). A few days ago, I decided to attempt homemade chicken soup, since I've been paying $1.48 a can for low-sodium Campbell's chicken noodle. I found that I did save a bit of money by preparing my own, added to the fact that I feel that my own soup is probably more nutritious, and definitely lacking in preservatives. . .

Here's the breakdown:

Store-bought soup:
Approximately 2 cups of Campbell's soup costs $1.48 (.74 cents a cup)

Homemade:
Approximately 14 cups of chicken noodle soup cost me a total of $7.34 (.52 cents a cup)

The ingredients I used were:

'All natural' (i.e. a bit more expensive) chicken breast: $1.50
Organic celery: .50
Onion: .10
Half a carton of organic (again, more expensive) chicken broth: $1.50
Egg noodles: $2.99
Organic carrots: .75
Herbs and seasonings: already in the cupboard
Butter: already in the refrigerator

So, was it worth .22 cents a cup to make my own chicken noodle soup? Basically, two cups of my homemeade soup would have cost me $1.04, compared to $1.48 for store-bought. Had I been at the grocery store, I definitely would have chosen the lower-priced chicken soup, especially if it had been all-natural as mine was. So in the end, I think it was worth it. There are ways I could have lowered the total cost for this soup, however.

For example, I shopped for most of my ingredients at New Seasons Market, which is definitely much more expensive than my usual Winco or Grocery Outlet. For items like the egg noodles, I know I could have found these at a lower price at my usual grocery store. Also, had I purchased a whole chicken and made the broth myself, also using the meat for the soup, I probably could have saved a bit on my chicken breasts and carton of organic broth. As for the organic vegetables, the obvious solution here is to grow my own! Next year, if I'm still living in my house (maybe the real estate gods will be kind, and I'll be able to sell), I intend to plant more vegetables to see if I can bring my grocery bill down even more.

All in all, this was a good exercise, and one I hope to duplicate a few more times if I can, preferably with other types of homemade recipes versus store-bought products. I'm also looking for recipes that can be frozen and also easily carried to work for low-cost lunches. If you have any suggestions, feel free to leave them in the comment section!

In the meantime, here's the recipe I used for my 'quick and easy' chicken noodle soup:

INGREDIENTS

• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1/2 cup chopped celery
• 4 (14.5 ounce) cans chicken broth
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can vegetable broth
• 1/2 pound chopped cooked chicken breast
• 1 1/2 cups egg noodles
• 1 cup sliced carrots
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• salt and pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS

1. In a large pot over medium heat, melt butter. Cook onion and celery in butter until just tender, 5 minutes. Pour in chicken and vegetable broths and stir in chicken, noodles, carrots, basil, oregano, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes before serving.

A Super Frugal couple. . . .

I blogged earlier this week about needing to decrease my grocery bill again; as I've fallen out of the habit of tracking every single penny, my expenses have slowly inched skyward. I hope to begin anew after the first of the year. In the meantime, I find myself buying fast food (well, Burgerville---which I argue isn't really all that bad because they use, for the most part, local suppliers) as well as 'convenience food', which is much more expensive than just buying the ingredients myself and cooking up, say, a lasagna.

Recently, I learned to my horror that my favorite 'bad' treat, frosted circus animal cookies by Mother's Cookies, have gone the way of the dodo bird. Yes. Extinct! I was devastated by this, until I learned, through a blog called The Naked Loon, that there are a couple of alternatives. So, I've been happily purchasing $3 bags of Franz frosted circus animals---not great for my budget or my waistline!

As I contemplate getting back to a more healthy, raw (and hopefully cheaper) diet, heavy on the fruits, vegetables and grains, I've learned of a couple who had as their goal to live---EAT---for just $1 a day! The two high school teachers decided to voluntarily challenge themselves---as many in the world are forced to do---to survive on less than most of us pay for a cup of coffee each day. While the experiment was 'non-political', it does force one to think of the way we live in the United States, our perceived "needs" versus "wants", and how most of the rest of the world lives.

The results were interesting; the couple blogged about losing weight (and energy), describing their daily meals, and the story was picked up by news outlets across the country. There are links to articles in the New York Times as well as links to Fox News snippets about the challenge. I've not had time to go through each article or video, the but stories and the blog are interesting, especially if you have any interest in consumerism, waste, living closer to the earth, or other issues that affect us on a local and global level.

I will certainly consider the challenge as I'm trying to get below $100 for my food budget again, beginning on January 1. Even a low $100 food budget is three times more than this couple---and many all over the world---have to spend on food.

Frugal exercise, part deux. . . .

I've been largely silent over the past several days, primarily because the thought of logging in and viewing that gigantic number that represents my student loan debt makes me kind of sick. However, I guess the first step to conquering any obstacle is actually facing it, making peace with it, and studying it to determine how best to get past it. That will be a long process, I know, and my student loan debt won't be something that will go away in a month, or a year, or even probably five years.

In the meantime, I need to keep adding to my savings (which will carry me through next year when I won't be able to work full time, due to school commitments) and keeping my expenditures low.

A few months ago, I wrote about my need for more exercise---as the days have gotten shorter (and darker and less sunny), that need has just become much greater! I often hibernate in the winter, and this year is no exception. I've not motivated myself to get exercise DVD's out of the library, and running outside has been spotty at best. For that reason, I decided to renew my membership to the gym---although I did it frugally: I waited until the gym had a 'no initiation fee' special, saving me $50! So, after a year of frugality, I'm adding a regular, $30 expense back into my budget. I feel like my health (and my mood) requires this.

To offset this, I'm going to try to decrease the amount I'm spending on groceries, as this number as inched past $125 over the last few months, as I've waited to tally my expenditures until the end of the month, rather than keeping track as I go along. Maybe I'll start publishing my budget again, to keep myself a bit more accountable. Did any of you find that interesting, at all? If so, perhaps I'll start that again as of January 1.

Frugal exercise. . .

I've noticed a subtle thickening around my waist and hips, over the past six months or so. My doctor says that some weight gain is normal as women age, a comment I'm trying to ignore. It's probably no coincidence that this began around the time I terminated my gym membership while simultaneously beginning to socialize more (meaning, I eat---and drink---"out" more than I used to). I certainly don't want to spend any more money on a new---larger---wardrobe, so what's a gal to do when she's trying to budget AND lose some weight?

In the summer, it's not been difficult to get myself down to the track for a run---free exercise! And yesterday, I spent a grueling few hours in the front yard making a dent in the weeds that have suddenly sprung from the earth. I probably did the equivalent of a hundred lunges and squats yesterday, just pulling, gathering, and depositing in the green waste can.

Now, though, I'm starting to worry about fall and winter, when it's literally dark when I get home from work, meaning I can't just run down the street to the (unlit) track, let alone run on the paths in Mt. Tabor park. Is it better for me to spend the $35 a month on a gym membership, to avoid having to spend more money on better fitting clothing?

At this point, I'm saving money on food, since I'm trying to eat smaller portions, with more fresh fruits and vegetables, rather than the tons of pasta, rice, and noodles I generally eat. I'm also cutting back on my alcohol consumption, which is saving me a pretty penny. But I'm still not debt-free (I still owe $1800 to my credit card), and I wanted to use the gym membership as a 'reward' of sorts, when I was able to finally close that card out.

Although I haven't yet decided on the winter gym membership question, here are some habits I can develop now, to help me save money on exercise:

• Use free weights; I actually already have these, in 2 lb and 8 lb (ouch!) weights. All I need to do is get into the habit of using them regularly.
• Utilize the internet. There are actually short 'podcasts', or online videos, that go through exercise routines that I can do at home.
• Buy a jump-rope. Even if I can't run (and I LOVE running), using a jump-rope might give me the same cardio workout, possibly in less time. And it's CHEAP!
• Check out an exercise DVD from the library. It might be fun to check out a different DVD every week, so I have some variety in my exercise routines.

So there it is. There may be some alternatives to restarting my gym membership; at the very least, I'm going to give it a shot and see how I feel.

Frugal bounty. . . .

Our summer has been cooler than normal, and I feel as if my vegetable garden is growing so slowly. I'm afraid that summer will be over and the fall rains will begin right around the time my tomatoes ripen. . . .

In spite of my still-green tomatoes, there are some other garden vegetables that are finally beginning to mature. Last night, I had a pasta salad with fresh green beans, yellow zucchini, and a few tiny little cherry tomatoes that decided to ripen up just as I was fixing dinner. I even found a delicious, crispy sugar pea on the vine, to my suprise!

Unlike J.D. at Get Rich Slowly, I'm not keeping track of how much I've spent (both in terms of money and time) in my garden. I'm content with the satisfaction I get from watching plants grow (including some I grew from seed this year, for the first time) as well as from munching on produce that I was able to pick from plants in my own yard.

J.D.'s goal is to determine whether he and his wife Kris are really saving money by growing their own vegetables. If you're considering whether gardening can help you save some money at the grocery store or farmer's market, here are a few articles that might give you some insight into that:

How to Save Money in Your Home Garden

Digging Up Dinner

Garden Without Spending a Lot of Green

Happy gardening, folks!

Yet another reason to avoid pre-packaged foods. . .

As part of my frugal adventure, I've cut my grocery bills by buying less pre-packaged foods and cooking more of my own meals from scratch. Not only does this save me money, it cuts down on the amount of plastic and other items that go straight to the landfill (even recycling is a drain on resources. . .).

Now, as if to add more weight to this, I came across an article in the Los Angeles Times that discusses the toxins that are present in food packaging. Carcinogenic toxins! The EPA is considering regulating this type of packaging (great for the environment and great for us) but this hasn't happened yet.

So, just one more reason to buy fresh foods and avoid those packaged mini-pizzas and other 'convenience' foods. Not only will they steal money from your wallet, they may also steal your health. . . .

Frugal veggies. . . .

Apropos of my new interest in Urban Homesteading, I found an article today that discusses the concept of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). This is a system in which community members work on a local farm for a specified amount of time (for example, two hours a week) in exchange for free produce.

This sounds like a great option for people who live in apartments---I have a small yard, big enough to grow tomatoes, zucchini, and lettuce (my beans are just about ready to put in the ground). I know people who don't have the luxury of a yard, though, and since I'm considering a move to a condo or apartment (I'll discuss this on the blog later when I've thought this through a bit), I felt sad at the 'loss' of space for vegetable growing.

I was curious about opportunities for this in my area, and just did a basic google search on CSA and Portland. It turns out there's a book called Sharing the Harvest, which is described by our local Powell's Bookstore as a must-read for people who are considering either growing their own backyard harvest, or joining a CSA. The authors came to Powell's and spoke on March 10 (darn, I missed it!).

Another valuable bit of information is a link to the Dancing Roots Farm, which offers memberships to individuals who want fresh produce grown locally. According to the website, the cost is $435 for 26 weeks of fresh vegetables (from late May through Thanksgiving). No work on the farm is required. Other benefits? Farm fresh eggs, food preserving workshops (I need this), free range meat orders, and u-pick blackberries. As evidence that the CSA movement is taking off, all the memberships for 2008 are sold out!

I encourage you to do a basic search in your own area. Do you have access to this type of membership through a local farm? What is the cost? Would it be worth it to you and your family to have locally grown, fresh produce available? Can you see yourself working 2 or 3 hours a week on a farm in exchange for produce?

Frugal eating. . . .

A few of my readers have commented on my rather anemic-looking grocery budget (ranging anywhere from $75 to $85 per month). In an effort to help you all visualize how I stay alive with such a small budget, I’ve kept track of my daily food intake for one week.

Please note that I am not suggesting that you eat the way I do! I know that many of my readers have families to feed and couldn’t shop or eat the way I do. I’m actually a bit nervous about putting this information out there; while I feel entirely comfortable letting you all know how much I make and where I spend my money, it’s somewhat different sharing my food choices! Oddly, I feel much more vulnerable and hesitant to put this on the blog. But, in the interest of staying honest and sharing with you all, here goes:

Monday

Breakfast: toast (with butter and cinnamon) and a banana, plus coffee
A.M. Snack: carrots
Lunch: peanut butter and jelly sandwich
P.M. Snack: crackers and cheddar cheese
Dinner: beans and rice with cheese

Tuesday

Breakfast: English muffin and a banana, plus coffee
A.M. Snack: carrots
Lunch: baked potato with cheese
P.M. Snack: peanut butter and apple
Dinner: out with friends: 2 drinks and appetizers (from ‘fun money’ budget)

Wednesday

Breakfast: banana and coffee
A.M. Snack: yogurt with flax seeds
Lunch: beans and rice (leftovers)
P.M. Snack: crackers (wheat and cheese-nips)
Dinner: roast beef sandwich, cherry tomatoes (leftovers, free from work function)

Thursday

Breakfast: instant oatmeal with blueberries plus coffee
A.M. Snack: carrots
Lunch: Turkey sandwich, cherry tomatoes (again, leftovers from work function)
P.M. Snack: cheese nips
Dinner: spaghetti with basil, garlic, and parmesan, plus asparagus

Friday

Breakfast: instant oatmeal with brown sugar and honey plus coffee
A.M. Snack: banana
Lunch: rice and beans with cheese (last of leftovers)
P.M. Snack: no snack
Dinner: roast beef sandwich with tomatoes (last of free office food)

Saturday

Breakfast: English muffins with cinnamon and butter, plus coffee
A.M. Snack: no snack
Lunch: grilled cheese sandwich with tomato soup
P.M. Snack: cookies
Dinner: curried chicken (leftovers in the freezer) with rice

Sunday

Breakfast: yogurt with blueberries and flax and coffee
A.M. Snack: no snack
Lunch: baked potato with cheese
P.M. Snack: cookies
Dinner: chow mein (ramen noodles with leftover asparagus, carrot slivers, onion, cabbage and tofu)

So, there you have it. That's what $75 - $85 a month for groceries can look like. Granted I rely on some common staples to get me through (rice, pasta, ramen, vegetables, bananas, and of course, coffee) but I don't mind eating leftovers as long as it's something I enjoy.

18 ways I keep my grocery bill under $75 a month. . . .

A reader commented last week about my zero-based budget, but also wondered how in the world I can get away with spending just $75 a month on food (sometimes less).

"I would also really like you to post about how you get away with spending just $75.00 per month on groceries (amazing). I just don't get that, even for a single person with no kids. I just went to the store today, and even though I did not need stuff for actual meals (just "fill in stuff") and spent almost $60.00."

I’ve actually increased this item in my budget to $85, to (hopefully) make up for rising food prices. This week, I’m keeping track of what I’m actually eating (this should be interesting---I can’t even remember what I had for dinner last night) so readers can see what $75 in groceries means for a single, fairly active woman like myself.

Keep in mind that I’m not suggesting that anyone eat like I do, because I suppose I do crave lots of carbs and cheese, and don’t always get the protein and other nutrients that I probably should. Anyway, in advance of sharing my diet for a week (yikes! Why does this make me so nervous?) I’ll share some of the tactics I use to get the most for my dollar without starving or feeling deprived.

1. Buy in bulk. I’ve discussed this before, and I’ll say it again: shop the bulk section of your least expensive grocery store first---then do the rest of your shopping. You WILL save money (and packaging) this way.
2. I religiously, religiously, check the per ounce or per pound price on the shelf stickers. If your store doesn’t provide this information, ask the store manager about it, or go to another store! By noting how much I’m paying per ounce, I know at a glance whether the 16 oz spaghetti sauce at $1.89 is cheaper than the 20 oz sauce for $2.05 (I should note that I am NOT a math whiz, so doing these kinds of calculations in my head is asking for a miracle).
3. Apropos of the first two tips, create a price book. It will take you some time in the beginning (you can also use old receipts, if you keep yours) but is worth it. There’s nothing more satisfying than being able to determine that the “sale” price in a weekly circular is no less expensive than the regular price at a low-cost grocery store.
4. I purchase food that is inexpensive, long lasting, and can be used in many different recipes. Example? Potatoes! “Boring, boring potatoes”, I hear you saying. Not so fast! There are literally hundreds of recipes online that incorporate potatoes: casseroles, soups, frittatas, and so on. I recently made a potato casserole with frozen diced spinach, cheese and garlic. It lasted for four or five meals, and probably cost a total of about $2.50 to make. I also eat a lot of beans and rice, in different incarnations. Black beans are a great source of protein, and are fairly inexpensive. I haven’t quite committed to actually cooking my own beans (I buy canned), but am inching my way in that direction.
5. I don’t buy much meat or poultry. It’s not that I don’t like beef and chicken; in fact, I love it. However, in the interest of saving money (as well as for environmental and animal rights reasons) I’ve cut my meat and poultry purchases to nearly nothing. I’ll still order meat dishes when I’m eating out with friends, but I don’t use it at home anymore. I make up for the protein loss through beans, cheese, tofu (I’m learning---slowly---to like this) and something called ‘Textured Vegetable Protein’ (TVP) which is a meat substitute for many recipes. See my ‘TVP meatloaf ' post for more information.
6. I buy store brands (generics) when I can. This includes sauces, sugar, bread, frozen vegetables, and many other items. There are some products that don’t appeal to me in the store brand (black beans, for one), but if the name brand costs only a few pennies more, I’ll buy it instead. For example, my store brand wheat bread costs .82¢ a loaf. And it’s larger than the name brand loaves that cost $1.99! Sometimes I wonder about the ingredient, possible preservative, and nutrient differences between the two, but for now, the lower priced bread is tasty and fits my budget. Note: a friend gave me her bread machine for Christmas---she and her husband never used it---and I’ve been making a lot of my own bread as well. Last week I made spinach-cheese bread—delicious!
7. I shop at a chain called the ‘Grocery Outlet’ for items like shampoo, conditioner, toilet paper, soaps, and cleaning supplies (sometime food, too). I rarely pay more than .99¢ or maybe $2.00 for these products. I’m also starting to use more natural cleaning supplies (which, coincidentally, are also cheaper). White vinegar is a wonder product!
8. Check Rite Aid (or CVS, if you’re on the east coast of the U.S.) for ‘buy one get one free’ or even ‘free after rebate’ deals for household items like toothbrushes, toothpaste, and shampoos. There are some great deals in the weekly circulars (which you can view online---Rite Aid even allows you to request your rebates online—no stamps needed). Just be sure that you only purchase the items that will save you money. I don’t know about you, but when I walk through the makeup section of Rite Aid on the way to the shampoo aisle, I have a hard time convincing myself that I don’t need a new lipstick or eyeliner.
9. I grew up in a home where dinners consisted of a meat or other protein dish, salad or cooked vegetables (or both!), and almost always bread of some kind. Basically your square meal, hitting all of the four food groups. Here’s where the dieticians are going to scream. I don’t do that. I work 50+ hours a week and take at least two graduate level classes each term---I have neither the time nor the money for a square meal like the kind my dad used to make. Instead, I try to find recipes that include all of these items (usually a casserole, stir fry, or soup of some kind) in one dish. If I can’t do that, then I’ll sometimes make a special purchase of asparagus, other seasonal vegetable, or salad fixings to round it out. Disclosure: I am not known for being a regular vegetable eater! I’m working on this, though, so don’t hate me.
10. Snacks for work and school consist of fruit (usually bananas), dried cranberries (from the bulk section), or crackers. Generally, I’m looking for snack food that is inexpensive, easy to carry in my bookbag, and not completely unhealthy.
11. Leftovers. I love them. I can eat the same thing for days and days if I’m craving it (like lasagne). Also, bringing food to work keeps me from spending $6.99 on a burrito at Chipotle every day. When I make a meal, I often ensure that there will be enough for leftovers or to freeze for later. Saves time and money!
12. “How can you afford to make lasagne”, you ask? I substitute expensive cheeses (like ricotta and mozzarella) with cottage and cheddar cheese. Also, I never, ever buy pre-shredded cheese. I buy a giant hunk of it and shred what I need using my Cuisinart. Yes, it’s a pain to clean up, but boy does it save money! Again, I don’t make meat lasagne—I just found a great recipe for spinach and cottage cheese lasagne that is phenomenal!
13. Coffee. I love it. I brew it at home and bring it to work in a thermos and a travel cup, so I never run out. I have a little four cup coffee maker under my desk so if I am desperate, I can heat up some water and have tea instead.
14. Free food. Bring it on! Okay, so I work at a university, where the free food is abundant. There are receptions and meetings where the muffins, bagels, coffee, tea, or even cold cuts and salad are available for those who are invited. When I’m at one of these functions, I take full advantage of the opportunity to eat on someone else’s dime. The university pays for this food whether we eat it or not, so I don’t feel bad about filling my plate and even going back for seconds. In fact, last week I was lucky enough to have a free breakfast (board meeting) and free lunch (labor union meeting). When our office was interviewing candidates for an open position a few weeks ago, we had both free coffee and cookies as well as the opportunity to go to lunch with the candidate (the office paid). Also, I work in an office where coworkers will bring in cookies and cakes and other goodies from time to time (I also contribute to this, so I’m not a total moocher)! Whenever I’m invited so some function or other, my second thought (after “hmmm, is this relevant to me?”) is: “will there be food”? Never turn down free food, I say!
15. Grow your own! Last summer I feasted on the most amazing tomatoes grown in my yard. This year, I’ve planted the tomatoes plus zucchini and lettuce, and I’m considering trying green beans as well. For other locally grown produce, I’m lucky that there are many, many farmer’s markets in Portland, and one is held every Wednesday (beginning at the end of this month) on my campus. I have to be honest, though: I’ve never actually compared prices between the farmer’s market and the grocery store, so this is something I think I’ll do when the opportunity presents itself.
16. I don’t drink much alcohol at home. This decreases my grocery budget substantially. I’ll have a drink or two when I’m out with friends, but this money comes out of my ‘fun’ budget, not from grocery money. If I were a regular at-home drinker, my grocery budget would have to increase. However, the warmer it gets, the more I crave a yummy microbrew on the back deck, so we’ll see how my budget develops through the summer.
17. I also don’t drink much soda. Although, in the interest of full disclosure, I am sitting on my back deck as I type this, drinking a diet Pepsi. In my defense, though, it’s from a leftover 24-pack from last summer, which has been stored in my garage all winter.
18. Top Ramen: not just for college students! This is a great, low cost base for other dishes. Lose the overly-salty seasoning packet and create your own chow mein using fresh vegetables and the protein of your choice!

Is that all? Probably not. There are so many ways to save money at the grocery store, if you’re willing to cook from scratch, buy in bulk, purchase store brands, and be creative.

Festival of Frugality. . . .

Thanks to Rather Be Shopping for including my post, "Frugal healthcare. . ." in the 121st Festival of Frugality. . .the Tax Day edition, to be published tomorrow!

Frugal healthcare. . . .

I am an admitted eavesdropper, especially when I'm on my 20 minute commute on the local lightrail. The topics people choose to discuss between themselves and over cellphones in public never ceases to amaze me.

Last week, I was privy to a conversation that a young woman was having about a family member who had suffered a seizure, leaving her unable to speak, and without the use of her right leg. The family member does not have health insurance. Local hospitals were willing to stabilize her, but not treat her in the way that she needed---because they knew they would not be paid. The young woman was counseling another family member about how to get healthcare in Canada. She suggested driving the sick relative to Vancouver, BC (we're about a five hour drive from Canada), visit a hospital there, and claim to have been staying there on vacation when the seizure occurred. Because Canada has universal health insurance, the sick relative would be treated at no (or very little) cost.

Aside from feeling horrible about this woman's precarious situation, I also felt incredibly lucky to have an employer who covers all of my health insurance costs. I pay $1 for prescriptions. I pay nothing to see a doctor. Nothing to see a dentist. Sure, it's an HMO, but I'm covered.

What about people who don't work for employers who offer health insurance? How can they find insurance that is affordable and that will protect them from unexpected illnesses like this woman's seizure? I was so moved by the conversation that I heard last week, that I did a little reading, and here are some suggestions:

First, check your state government website. Many states, including mine, have information for consumers about obtaining all kinds of insurance, including health insurance. In fact, my state ever offers government insurance, for those who have been denied coverage by private insurance companies.

Then, compare quotes. There are many health insurance companies that will take information over the phone and will provide a quote within minutes. Call several companies to see what your options are, and how inexpensively you might obtain the same level of insurance coverage. There are even online sites where you can receive several quotes over the internet, without ever picking up the phone.

If you have auto or home insurance, see if these companies offer health insurance. Sometimes, insurance companies will give you a discount if you have multiple lines of insurance. However, be careful: you might save money if you were to go with a different company altogether, so continue to compare costs and coverage with other companies.

Consider how much you are willing to pay for prescriptions, copays, and deductibles. If you're able to agree to a higher deductible, your monthly premium will oftentimes decrease. The same goes for the percentage you're willing to pay for prescriptions and copays to see a doctor---the more you're willing to pay upfront for these services, the less your premiums will be.

Quit smoking! If you're a smoker, then quit as soon as you possibly can. Smoking is a risk factor that is taken into account by health insurance companies, so smokers will pay higher premiums than non-smokers. And calculate how much money you'll save---no cigarettes to buy, plus lower premiums. It's a win-win situation.

Lose weight! Again, if you're overweight (as defined by the insurance company), you may be seen as a higher risk---and you'll pay higher premiums. Now might be the best time to stick to that new exercise and diet regime; it may literally save you hundreds of dollars a year.

Consider your profession. Do you work with chemicals? In high rise construction? Professional tightrope walker? These professions might be considered high risk, and might contribute to higher premiums as well.

Clearly, the best way to obtain affordable health insurance is to work for an employer who offers it, and then do your best to stay healthy. However, if you're still looking for that perfect job with the perfect benefits (if you find it, let me know), private health insurance is a must-have in our country, with the exhorbitant cost of hospital and emergency care.

Frugal economy. . . . .

CNN has an ongoing series that profiles American families and how they're reacting to our slowing economy (i.e., the recession). It's called 'America's Money: In their own words' Today's profile caught my eye, because it's written by a man who is working a second job, to "pay the bills", just as I am.

I really wish these profiles were a little longer and more in-depth, because I'd love to know several things about this person: for example, just how much (or little) does a Vice President make? Is he truly living a "lower middle class" existence? Does the wife work? Do they have overwhelming student loans or other debt? A giant house? Is he driving a gas guzzler, since his gas bill is $170 a week (mine is $30 a month)?

I'm trying hard not to automatically judge this person and make assumptions about how his family is living. I look at my own situation (also working two jobs) and realize that everything is relative, after all. I have access to great public transportation (hence the lower gas bill) and make use of it. I have a wonderful public library where I can stock up on books, read magazines, and study in a warm and inviting atmosphere. I live in a tiny house, although with an admittedly too-large mortgage compared to my income. My car is old, but efficient and reliable. I have access to great health benefits, retirement plans, and tuition remission through my employment. Yes, I'm working two jobs, but I feel like I'm squarely middle-class.

It's interesting to read about how others are handling their own financial struggles, if only to help me realize that I'm not doing all that badly. . .

Vice president of information technology, 32, Denver, Colo.

We purchased a home last year and I'm proud to see my children live in a decent neighborhood close to a good public school and have a backyard to play in.

However, since moving, unexpected expenses and rising costs have created a situation of struggle. I do have a fixed-rate mortgage, but everything else is getting so expensive. Last week I spent $170 on gas alone. I've taken on a second job, and I know as long as our economy hangs in there and doesn't collapse, we'll be okay.

My biggest frustration is I work very hard to maintain a lower middle-class income and lifestyle. We don't go on vacations, or rent movies. We just hang out and do free or cheap stuff. But I still work a second job and I miss out on school events and struggle to feel okay explaining this to my son.

Sick as a dog. . . .

I have that flu/cold that's been going around! I've already called in sick to both of my jobs, and am considering whether to go to class tonight (it's a 45-minute commute each way---on the light rail).

I really want to just crawl back into bed in a Nyquil-induced fog. Unfortunately, I'm all out of cold remedies. Can I hack it without the expensive cold medicine? And where, in my tiny little budget, would the money for medicine come from? It would have to be from my 'fun' money, and knocking myself out with cough syrup is NOT my idea of fun!

For now, I'm going to keep drinking lemon tea with honey, and if I really need some knockout pills/syrup, I'll get the generic brand to keep costs low. Following my zero-based budget without any flexibility isn't worth it to be miserable!

Hopefully back with the living tomorrow!