So, I get a lot of emails (A LOT) to all my email addys, messaging services, etc, asking for help to save money. I am always mildly entertained when people ask me for help because frankly, I'm just some cheapo stumbling around blindly trying to find the best ways to save a buck and live on a policeman's salary!
But, I get asking for help... I've done it a lot along my way. I remember the first BIG frugal change I made (besides going to cloth diapers... people do it. Really.) was begging my friend Dawn to teach me how to make bread. Bless her heart, she hauled her kids over and spent a day baking bread with me, from start to finish, making me do the work so I would understand it... the entire deal. That was about 2 years ago and other than the gift of store bought bread from my mommy every so often, we haven't eaten anything but homemade bread since!
I have often tried to come up with some sort of program to dole out to people who ask me for help and honestly, I have had no success. It's just such an individual thing! I will totally save money on some things (hello, cloth diapers) that freak the crap out of others, while I need to splurge on others (hello, my fancy haircuts with my hairstylist Brandie at Serenity) that others can skimp on no problem.
So, this is what I'm doing. I'm going to toss out a few goals a month. Try them all or pick and choose. The final goal will always be my new goal for me. You are welcome to play and tell us your results!
Oh and feel free to keep emailing me too, I really don't mind!
January
Goal 1.
Stop buying bread.
Bread recipe for you:
Country White
4 cups very warm water
3 tbsp yeast
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 tbsp salt
4 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup oil
5 cups bread flour
Mix that crap. Add in about 4-5 more cups o' bread flour, one cup at a time until it's not super sticky, but not hard either.
Let it sit for 25 min and then beat it again.
Toss into 3 greased bread pans and let rise for a FEW minutes (a few or it will explode in the oven) while the oven heats to 375 degrees. Bake until golden and then pop out of pans and butter up.
Eat!
Goal 1 B (For you wussie cheapskates, lol):
Buy bread at the day old bakery in bulk and freeze it! A month's worth!
Goal 2:
Buy 50lbs of bread flour and store them. Make them easy to get for rotation, but in a cool dark dry place. I suggest 18 gallon totes myself.
Goal 3:Unplug EVERYTHING in the house if you are not using it. Including the tv. Including nightlights during the day. Everything.
(Secret goal 4: start making your Christmas list for next year. Tis the season, promise)
Let me know how it goes!
3 comments:
If this is the recipe for the yummy bread that you gave to us last week, I'm DEFINITELY going to try it! It was so scrumptious, though I need to get a cool Kitchen-aid (preferrably in an amazingly snazzy color, so I'll need to save up for it!)
hello! found your blog thru playgroup (even though i havent been yet!) are you in 12th ward? also, HOW do you only spend $100/ mo? any specific tips/ tricks?
Nat, yeeeees/1
I'm not in 12th ward. On how I spend $100 a month, well, you can see that I occasionally go over (sigh) but I coupon religiously and I have a food supply that I rotate through at all times that makes me able to NOT spend money on little extras during a month.
It also took me about a year to get my budget there consistently.
If you really want to trim your budget, couponing is a big one that works for me. Also, pick a frugal goal and accomplish it each month. I find the lifestyle change we have overgone in the past few years really has alot to do with how much money we save in every part of our lives.
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