Are you looking at every household budget line item?

When you have to, or want to, cut back on expenses for your family, the place to look is in every household budget category.

Reason: if your budget comes up short by $100 a month, does it matter in the long run where you find that cost savings?

Answer: No. But the details of what are the “easy” budget cuts do vary quite a bit from one family to the next.

I have a series of articles based on the Crown Financial Ministries household budget program at the Downsized Budget: How and Where to Cut Back.

But another approach is to look at a more detailed list of household budget categories and think about money-saving options for each line item that would be appropriate to your family:

• Alcohol (Cut back on amounts, decide upon a different favorite beverage, drink at home rather than go out.)
• Allowances (When the overall income goes down, it is reasonable to expect that the “fun money” allocated to each household member goes down too.)
• Appliances (Repair instead of replace for as long as possible. Another trick is to look for second-hand appliances to buy you a little time before the next big retail purchase).
• Baby formula or breastfeeding supplies (Network with other parents of little ones and ask your doctor or nurse for tips on what formulas, bottles and supplies are the best value for the money.)
• Batteries (Pay attention to the deals on coupons and drugstore rebates. Use rechargeable batteries as much as possible. Ask for a battery charger for a Christmas gift.)
• Birthday and Christmas gifts (Select one low budget, but “perfect,” gift instead of trying to impress relatives with the number of boxes or bags. Send greeting cards instead of gifts to friends.).
• Bus fares (If you are a frequent flier on the city bus, add up your bus fares and figure out whether the monthly pass is better deal.)
• Cable or satellite TV (Pay close attention to the sales and deals promotions. This is an easy expense to drop if you need to save cash or find that you aren’t watching the extra channels very often.)
• Car insurance (Ask your insurance agent what he or she can suggest on the discounts and options. In the meantime, look over your policy when it arrives and make sure the fine print fits your actual usage.)
• Car payment and / or car purchase fund (If you can pay off the car early or drive it past the last payment, you have money available to save for down payment on the next car purchase.)
• Car repair and maintenance (Watch for the coupons and specials offered by your favorite mechanic.)
• Child support paid in or out (This amount might adjust depending on changes in parents’ income and other expenses for the children. Be sure you understand the county or state rules that apply to your child support case so you can file review requests as appropriate.)
• Cleaning supplies (Research and try out the eco-friendly and old-school methods. Even if you replace only half your chemical use with alternative supplies, that’s half as many chemicals you need to buy.)
• Clothing (Rely on a hand-me-down network or second-hand shops for basic items such as jeans, school uniforms, winter coats and black work pants. Watch the department and discount sales for shoes, socks, work boots and underthings. Make purchase choices based on items that can be worn for multiple occasions such as solid-color tees.)
• Coffee shop (Get a frequent flier card if you are a coffee shop customer. The better choice is buy a pound of your favorite coffee shop flavors and brew it at home. Don’t insist on an expensive coffee pot for home. My $10 coffee pot works just fine.)
• Computer and office supplies (If your office supply store has a rewards program, sign up. Look during the back-to-school sales in July and August for home office supply deals.)
• Condo or neighborhood association fees (If you have to pay a neighborhood association fee, then go to the association meeting and participate in the discussions of what are reasonable expenses for those funds.)
• Credit card payments (Pay off, pay down, or at least pay the minimum every month on time. The longer this bill takes to pay off, the more it’s going to cost you.)
• Day care and babysitter fees (Are you eligible for tax credits for day care? Can you send the children to grandma’s house for a couple of weeks during the summer rather than pay for day care? Swap with other parents on a co-op basis for the occasional night out.)
• Diapers (If you have laundry machines at home, today’s cloth diapers are a big improvement from what used to be available. If you need to use disposable diapers at least on occasion, ask for bags of diapers as baby shower gifts. Another trick is put the word out that you will happily take or swap diaper coupons.)
• Dinners out (Discuss within the family as to when and how often the cost of a dinner out is appropriate. A birthday gathering would be a legitimate expense for many families. But the “I don’t have time to cook” excuse is not acceptable when your family is on tight budget. Find another way to handle your dinner menus.)
• Donations to church, non-profit or charity (Direct as many charity donations as possible via purchases you make anyway. There are grocery store chains that will let you assign your rewards points to a school or church. You can save box tops for the schools. You can eat at the fundraiser dinners rather than at a restaurant. You can buy the gift cards from the school fundraisers. You can put freebies you earn on grocery coupons in the food pantry baskets.)
• Dry cleaning (Avoid dry-clean only attire. But, if you do have some dry-clean pieces, look up the labeling to see if home dry cleaning kits will work. I’ve used those kits and have been pleased with the results.)
• Electric bill (Get on the budget-pay plan if your electric bill swings quite a bit during the summer or winter seasons. Convert as many fixtures as possible to CFL bulbs. Look up the electricity usage rates for any new TV sets or appliances you plan to buy.)
• Fitness center or gym membership (Ask if your employer or health insurance plan provides fitness center discounts.)
• Fuel for the car (Drive fewer miles. I’ve done the math on my family’s gasoline expenses over the years, and that is the biggest factor in how much money goes into our gas tank.)
• Furniture (Take on the hand-me-down or second-hand furniture as much as possible. You may still need to buy an occasional bed or other piece on retail, and if so, watch for the sales.)
• Garden supplies (Get quality garden tools that will last many years, or take on someone else’s hand-me-downs).
• Greeting cards (Buy boxes of assorted cards, get the individual cards at the dollar stores, get crafty and make your own greeting cards.)
• Groceries (You know about coupons and watching the sales. But if you haven’t tried Angel Food Ministries or similar  grocery-by-the-box programs, what are you waiting for? These services were designed for families on tight budgets. And if your family is eligible for free or reduced-price lunches, WIC, food stamps or food pantry giveaways, sign up.)
• Haircuts (Pick a hairstyle that is inexpensive to maintain. I remember how costly it was to style my hair into a perm every four months. I don’t do that any more. I also don’t color my hair. The sprinkle of gray makes me look just old enough to know what I’m talking about.)
• Health insurance (Take the time to learn how your insurance policy, COBRA, state program or insurance alternative works so you don’t get stuck with more out-of-pocket expenses than necessary.)
• Hobbies (The best hobbies for families on a budget are those that take a lot of time and not a lot of money. As an alternative – ask for hobby items or supplies as birthday or Christmas gifts.)
• Home maintenance and repair (Learn as many DIY skills as possible, so that you have cash available for occasions when you need to hire a pro.)
• Income tax preparation fees (There are lots of free and low-cost services available for those who have simple tax returns. If you have a complicated tax return, then do the research to find a software package or a preparer you trust to do it right.)
• Internet service (I’m noticing that a lot of families these days keep the Internet connection going as long as possible. It is just too useful a tool for details like looking up assistance programs, the best price on a product or provide “stuck at home” entertainment. But if that expense has to go, there are a lot of places you can find free Internet. Many libraries, for example, have either free wireless or free computer labs.)
• Landline phone (Find the best option that works for you. My husband and I need to call out-of-state relatives on a frequent basis, and we’ve got a calling plan that does just that.)
• Lawn and garden care (Take advantage of free and low-cost resources at the public library and the cooperative extension service offices to learn how to care for your piece of dirt on the cheap.)
• Mortgage (If you can’t do anything about the mortgage payment itself, then look to other cost savings elsewhere in your household budget. Keep in mind that a part of your mortgage payment is most likely property taxes and / or homeowners insurance, and you may be able to get those expenses down on their own merits.)
• Natural gas or heating oil bill (Put this on the budget-pay plan to average out your monthly cost.)
• Newspapers, books and magazines (Make your decisions on which subscriptions or books to keep or buy based on which of those publications will help you save you money. Otherwise, go buy the pretty house and garden magazines at a thrift store or look up the hobby magazines at the library.)
• Personal care products (Learn how the drugstore rebate programs work because you can save a bundle of money on soap, vitamins, lipstick and shampoo by timing your purchases to those promotions.)
• Pet expenses (Stop buying toys, outfits and accessories. Your pet needs healthy food, appropriate shelter, medical care and your one-on-one attention.)
• Photos (Don’t get caught up in the “annual family photo” or seasonal baby photo ritual. If you can’t afford it every year, but want to have those keepsakes, then set up a family studio print every other year.)
• Postage (Check on the flat rate box options for shipping packages. Do on-line bill pays for at least some of your bills. Deliver greeting cards in person when you can.)
• Property taxes (Watch your tax assessment papers when they arrive each year. Do you think the assessor has a fair value and accurate details listed for your property? If not, follow up on the appeal process.)
• Property or renters insurance (Ask your agent for circumstances or bundles in which you can get a discount.)
• Rent (Don’t just look for the cheapest rent. Put the cheapest rent options into perspective with related expenses such as will you have to use a laundry center or get a storage unit? Will you have to drive farther to work or school every day?)
• School lunches (If your children are eligible for free or reduced-price school lunches, sign up. Pack the kids’ lunches only if you have medical issues to work around, or can consistently pack a lunch cheaper than you can buy it from school.)
• Snacks (Stop the vending machine purchases if you are on a budget. Buy your own snacks at the grocery store or food service store, and pack them in your lunch box, briefcase, desk or locker.)
• Sports, club and activity fees and equipment (Use second hand equipment as much as possible, especially when you are starting a new hobby. Put limits on the number of activities per family member.)
• Sports events attended (Go to the minor league events, or attend the major league or college events that are within close range of home, become a tailgate party expert rather than buy concession food.)
• Student loan payments (Learn how the deferment and forbearance policies work on your student loans. A six-month hold on student loan payments was a big help for me at one point. When you are in repayment, make sure to ask for and save the interest statements to send in with your tax returns.)
• Textbooks (Ask the professors which books are absolutely needed vs. which ones are helpful. Then you can seek out the best prices on required books, and consider options such as sharing a secondary reference book with a classmate.)
• Trash and recycling bill (We used to live in a neighborhood where 2 can trash service per week was cheaper than unlimited service per week. Guess what program we signed up for?)
• Tuition and class fees (If you have a student in high school, look into whatever programs are available in your district for college classes on a free or low-cost tuition basis. They might be called dual enrollment, post-secondary options, advanced placement or middle college. It will take 15 credit hours to knock a semester off the college graduation date, but even a couple of classes at the high school level can help with a schedule crunch later.)
• Turnpike and bridge tolls (We do use the Ohio Turnpike and Indiana Toll Road on occasion. If you also travel on those routes, look into the electronic pass services. They save money compared to cash rates if you are on the toll roads frequently enough.)
• Vacations (Stay-cations are no longer a trendy feature story for the news media. It’s the reality for a lot of families who are on tight budgets. If you still want to do the big family vacations, don’t eliminate them. Just plan them for every two to three years instead of every year.)
• Wireless phone (I did have pay-as-you go wireless for two years to save money; but eventually we had to get a real family calling plan. You know when you have a texting, talking or data freak in the family. If so, then do the research to find the best value for your money and save cash elsewhere in your budget.)
• Wedding plans (Spend only what you can afford on the wedding, reception and honeymoon. Shop around for the best packages if you have a big family and a reception will cost some bucks. And you can still have a church blessing or religious ceremony on a budget – I’ve seen it done on multiple occasions.)
• Work or college lunches (I’m a big fan of K-12 school lunches because the cost is very inexpensive compared to what can be packed in a lunch box. But brown bag lunches for work or on college campus are absolutely way cheaper than fast-food lunches)

Continue reading Are you looking at every household budget line item? …

From Monroe on a Budget.

Are you looking at every household budget line item?

When you have to, or want to, cut back on expenses for your family, the place to look is in every household budget category.

Reason: if your budget comes up short by $100 a month, does it matter in the long run where you find that cost savings?

Answer: No. But the details of what are the “easy” budget cuts do vary quite a bit from one family to the next.

I have a series of articles based on the Crown Financial Ministries household budget program at the Downsized Budget: How and Where to Cut Back.

But another approach is to look at a more detailed list of household budget categories and think about money-saving options for each line item that would be appropriate to your family:

• Alcohol (Cut back on amounts, decide upon a different favorite beverage, drink at home rather than go out.)
• Allowances (When the overall income goes down, it is reasonable to expect that the “fun money” allocated to each household member goes down too.)
• Appliances (Repair instead of replace for as long as possible. Another trick is to look for second-hand appliances to buy you a little time before the next big retail purchase).
• Baby formula or breastfeeding supplies (Network with other parents of little ones and ask your doctor or nurse for tips on what formulas, bottles and supplies are the best value for the money.)
• Batteries (Pay attention to the deals on coupons and drugstore rebates. Use rechargeable batteries as much as possible. Ask for a battery charger for a Christmas gift.)
• Birthday and Christmas gifts (Select one low budget, but “perfect,” gift instead of trying to impress relatives with the number of boxes or bags. Send greeting cards instead of gifts to friends.).
• Bus fares (If you are a frequent flier on the city bus, add up your bus fares and figure out whether the monthly pass is better deal.)
• Cable or satellite TV (Pay close attention to the sales and deals promotions. This is an easy expense to drop if you need to save cash or find that you aren’t watching the extra channels very often.)
• Car insurance (Ask your insurance agent what he or she can suggest on the discounts and options. In the meantime, look over your policy when it arrives and make sure the fine print fits your actual usage.)
• Car payment and / or car purchase fund (If you can pay off the car early or drive it past the last payment, you have money available to save for down payment on the next car purchase.)
• Car repair and maintenance (Watch for the coupons and specials offered by your favorite mechanic.)
• Child support paid in or out (This amount might adjust depending on changes in parents’ income and other expenses for the children. Be sure you understand the county or state rules that apply to your child support case so you can file review requests as appropriate.)
• Cleaning supplies (Research and try out the eco-friendly and old-school methods. Even if you replace only half your chemical use with alternative supplies, that’s half as many chemicals you need to buy.)
• Clothing (Rely on a hand-me-down network or second-hand shops for basic items such as jeans, school uniforms, winter coats and black work pants. Watch the department and discount sales for shoes, socks, work boots and underthings. Make purchase choices based on items that can be worn for multiple occasions such as solid-color tees.)
• Coffee shop (Get a frequent flier card if you are a coffee shop customer. The better choice is buy a pound of your favorite coffee shop flavors and brew it at home. Don’t insist on an expensive coffee pot for home. My $10 coffee pot works just fine.)
• Computer and office supplies (If your office supply store has a rewards program, sign up. Look during the back-to-school sales in July and August for home office supply deals.)
• Condo or neighborhood association fees (If you have to pay a neighborhood association fee, then go to the association meeting and participate in the discussions of what are reasonable expenses for those funds.)
• Credit card payments (Pay off, pay down, or at least pay the minimum every month on time. The longer this bill takes to pay off, the more it’s going to cost you.)
• Day care and babysitter fees (Are you eligible for tax credits for day care? Can you send the children to grandma’s house for a couple of weeks during the summer rather than pay for day care? Swap with other parents on a co-op basis for the occasional night out.)
• Diapers (If you have laundry machines at home, today’s cloth diapers are a big improvement from what used to be available. If you need to use disposable diapers at least on occasion, ask for bags of diapers as baby shower gifts. Another trick is put the word out that you will happily take or swap diaper coupons.)
• Dinners out (Discuss within the family as to when and how often the cost of a dinner out is appropriate. A birthday gathering would be a legitimate expense for many families. But the “I don’t have time to cook” excuse is not acceptable when your family is on tight budget. Find another way to handle your dinner menus.)
• Donations to church, non-profit or charity (Direct as many charity donations as possible via purchases you make anyway. There are grocery store chains that will let you assign your rewards points to a school or church. You can save box tops for the schools. You can eat at the fundraiser dinners rather than at a restaurant. You can buy the gift cards from the school fundraisers. You can put freebies you earn on grocery coupons in the food pantry baskets.)
• Dry cleaning (Avoid dry-clean only attire. But, if you do have some dry-clean pieces, look up the labeling to see if home dry cleaning kits will work. I’ve used those kits and have been pleased with the results.)
• Electric bill (Get on the budget-pay plan if your electric bill swings quite a bit during the summer or winter seasons. Convert as many fixtures as possible to CFL bulbs. Look up the electricity usage rates for any new TV sets or appliances you plan to buy.)
• Fitness center or gym membership (Ask if your employer or health insurance plan provides fitness center discounts.)
• Fuel for the car (Drive fewer miles. I’ve done the math on my family’s gasoline expenses over the years, and that is the biggest factor in how much money goes into our gas tank.)
• Furniture (Take on the hand-me-down or second-hand furniture as much as possible. You may still need to buy an occasional bed or other piece on retail, and if so, watch for the sales.)
• Garden supplies (Get quality garden tools that will last many years, or take on someone else’s hand-me-downs).
• Greeting cards (Buy boxes of assorted cards, get the individual cards at the dollar stores, get crafty and make your own greeting cards.)
• Groceries (You know about coupons and watching the sales. But if you haven’t tried Angel Food Ministries or similar  grocery-by-the-box programs, what are you waiting for? These services were designed for families on tight budgets. And if your family is eligible for free or reduced-price lunches, WIC, food stamps or food pantry giveaways, sign up.)
• Haircuts (Pick a hairstyle that is inexpensive to maintain. I remember how costly it was to style my hair into a perm every four months. I don’t do that any more. I also don’t color my hair. The sprinkle of gray makes me look just old enough to know what I’m talking about.)
• Health insurance (Take the time to learn how your insurance policy, COBRA, state program or insurance alternative works so you don’t get stuck with more out-of-pocket expenses than necessary.)
• Hobbies (The best hobbies for families on a budget are those that take a lot of time and not a lot of money. As an alternative – ask for hobby items or supplies as birthday or Christmas gifts.)
• Home maintenance and repair (Learn as many DIY skills as possible, so that you have cash available for occasions when you need to hire a pro.)
• Income tax preparation fees (There are lots of free and low-cost services available for those who have simple tax returns. If you have a complicated tax return, then do the research to find a software package or a preparer you trust to do it right.)
• Internet service (I’m noticing that a lot of families these days keep the Internet connection going as long as possible. It is just too useful a tool for details like looking up assistance programs, the best price on a product or provide “stuck at home” entertainment. But if that expense has to go, there are a lot of places you can find free Internet. Many libraries, for example, have either free wireless or free computer labs.)
• Landline phone (Find the best option that works for you. My husband and I need to call out-of-state relatives on a frequent basis, and we’ve got a calling plan that does just that.)
• Lawn and garden care (Take advantage of free and low-cost resources at the public library and the cooperative extension service offices to learn how to care for your piece of dirt on the cheap.)
• Mortgage (If you can’t do anything about the mortgage payment itself, then look to other cost savings elsewhere in your household budget. Keep in mind that a part of your mortgage payment is most likely property taxes and / or homeowners insurance, and you may be able to get those expenses down on their own merits.)
• Natural gas or heating oil bill (Put this on the budget-pay plan to average out your monthly cost.)
• Newspapers, books and magazines (Make your decisions on which subscriptions or books to keep or buy based on which of those publications will help you save you money. Otherwise, go buy the pretty house and garden magazines at a thrift store or look up the hobby magazines at the library.)
• Personal care products (Learn how the drugstore rebate programs work because you can save a bundle of money on soap, vitamins, lipstick and shampoo by timing your purchases to those promotions.)
• Pet expenses (Stop buying toys, outfits and accessories. Your pet needs healthy food, appropriate shelter, medical care and your one-on-one attention.)
• Photos (Don’t get caught up in the “annual family photo” or seasonal baby photo ritual. If you can’t afford it every year, but want to have those keepsakes, then set up a family studio print every other year.)
• Postage (Check on the flat rate box options for shipping packages. Do on-line bill pays for at least some of your bills. Deliver greeting cards in person when you can.)
• Property taxes (Watch your tax assessment papers when they arrive each year. Do you think the assessor has a fair value and accurate details listed for your property? If not, follow up on the appeal process.)
• Property or renters insurance (Ask your agent for circumstances or bundles in which you can get a discount.)
• Rent (Don’t just look for the cheapest rent. Put the cheapest rent options into perspective with related expenses such as will you have to use a laundry center or get a storage unit? Will you have to drive farther to work or school every day?)
• School lunches (If your children are eligible for free or reduced-price school lunches, sign up. Pack the kids’ lunches only if you have medical issues to work around, or can consistently pack a lunch cheaper than you can buy it from school.)
• Snacks (Stop the vending machine purchases if you are on a budget. Buy your own snacks at the grocery store or food service store, and pack them in your lunch box, briefcase, desk or locker.)
• Sports, club and activity fees and equipment (Use second hand equipment as much as possible, especially when you are starting a new hobby. Put limits on the number of activities per family member.)
• Sports events attended (Go to the minor league events, or attend the major league or college events that are within close range of home, become a tailgate party expert rather than buy concession food.)
• Student loan payments (Learn how the deferment and forbearance policies work on your student loans. A six-month hold on student loan payments was a big help for me at one point. When you are in repayment, make sure to ask for and save the interest statements to send in with your tax returns.)
• Textbooks (Ask the professors which books are absolutely needed vs. which ones are helpful. Then you can seek out the best prices on required books, and consider options such as sharing a secondary reference book with a classmate.)
• Trash and recycling bill (We used to live in a neighborhood where 2 can trash service per week was cheaper than unlimited service per week. Guess what program we signed up for?)
• Tuition and class fees (If you have a student in high school, look into whatever programs are available in your district for college classes on a free or low-cost tuition basis. They might be called dual enrollment, post-secondary options, advanced placement or middle college. It will take 15 credit hours to knock a semester off the college graduation date, but even a couple of classes at the high school level can help with a schedule crunch later.)
• Turnpike and bridge tolls (We do use the Ohio Turnpike and Indiana Toll Road on occasion. If you also travel on those routes, look into the electronic pass services. They save money compared to cash rates if you are on the toll roads frequently enough.)
• Vacations (Stay-cations are no longer a trendy feature story for the news media. It’s the reality for a lot of families who are on tight budgets. If you still want to do the big family vacations, don’t eliminate them. Just plan them for every two to three years instead of every year.)
• Wireless phone (I did have pay-as-you go wireless for two years to save money; but eventually we had to get a real family calling plan. You know when you have a texting, talking or data freak in the family. If so, then do the research to find the best value for your money and save cash elsewhere in your budget.)
• Wedding plans (Spend only what you can afford on the wedding, reception and honeymoon. Shop around for the best packages if you have a big family and a reception will cost some bucks. And you can still have a church blessing or religious ceremony on a budget – I’ve seen it done on multiple occasions.)
• Work or college lunches (I’m a big fan of K-12 school lunches because the cost is very inexpensive compared to what can be packed in a lunch box. But brown bag lunches for work or on college campus are absolutely way cheaper than fast-food lunches)

Continue reading Are you looking at every household budget line item? …

From Monroe on a Budget.

Are you looking at every household budget line item?

When you have to, or want to, cut back on expenses for your family, the place to look is in every household budget category.

Reason: if your budget comes up short by $100 a month, does it matter in the long run where you find that cost savings?

Answer: No. But the details of what are the “easy” budget cuts do vary quite a bit from one family to the next.

I have a series of articles based on the Crown Financial Ministries household budget program at the Downsized Budget: How and Where to Cut Back.

But another approach is to look at a more detailed list of household budget categories and think about money-saving options for each line item that would be appropriate to your family:

• Alcohol (Cut back on amounts, decide upon a different favorite beverage, drink at home rather than go out.)
• Allowances (When the overall income goes down, it is reasonable to expect that the “fun money” allocated to each household member goes down too.)
• Appliances (Repair instead of replace for as long as possible. Another trick is to look for second-hand appliances to buy you a little time before the next big retail purchase).
• Baby formula or breastfeeding supplies (Network with other parents of little ones and ask your doctor or nurse for tips on what formulas, bottles and supplies are the best value for the money.)
• Batteries (Pay attention to the deals on coupons and drugstore rebates. Use rechargeable batteries as much as possible. Ask for a battery charger for a Christmas gift.)
• Birthday and Christmas gifts (Select one low budget, but “perfect,” gift instead of trying to impress relatives with the number of boxes or bags. Send greeting cards instead of gifts to friends.).
• Bus fares (If you are a frequent flier on the city bus, add up your bus fares and figure out whether the monthly pass is better deal.)
• Cable or satellite TV (Pay close attention to the sales and deals promotions. This is an easy expense to drop if you need to save cash or find that you aren’t watching the extra channels very often.)
• Car insurance (Ask your insurance agent what he or she can suggest on the discounts and options. In the meantime, look over your policy when it arrives and make sure the fine print fits your actual usage.)
• Car payment and / or car purchase fund (If you can pay off the car early or drive it past the last payment, you have money available to save for down payment on the next car purchase.)
• Car repair and maintenance (Watch for the coupons and specials offered by your favorite mechanic.)
• Child support paid in or out (This amount might adjust depending on changes in parents’ income and other expenses for the children. Be sure you understand the county or state rules that apply to your child support case so you can file review requests as appropriate.)
• Cleaning supplies (Research and try out the eco-friendly and old-school methods. Even if you replace only half your chemical use with alternative supplies, that’s half as many chemicals you need to buy.)
• Clothing (Rely on a hand-me-down network or second-hand shops for basic items such as jeans, school uniforms, winter coats and black work pants. Watch the department and discount sales for shoes, socks, work boots and underthings. Make purchase choices based on items that can be worn for multiple occasions such as solid-color tees.)
• Coffee shop (Get a frequent flier card if you are a coffee shop customer. The better choice is buy a pound of your favorite coffee shop flavors and brew it at home. Don’t insist on an expensive coffee pot for home. My $10 coffee pot works just fine.)
• Computer and office supplies (If your office supply store has a rewards program, sign up. Look during the back-to-school sales in July and August for home office supply deals.)
• Condo or neighborhood association fees (If you have to pay a neighborhood association fee, then go to the association meeting and participate in the discussions of what are reasonable expenses for those funds.)
• Credit card payments (Pay off, pay down, or at least pay the minimum every month on time. The longer this bill takes to pay off, the more it’s going to cost you.)
• Day care and babysitter fees (Are you eligible for tax credits for day care? Can you send the children to grandma’s house for a couple of weeks during the summer rather than pay for day care? Swap with other parents on a co-op basis for the occasional night out.)
• Diapers (If you have laundry machines at home, today’s cloth diapers are a big improvement from what used to be available. If you need to use disposable diapers at least on occasion, ask for bags of diapers as baby shower gifts. Another trick is put the word out that you will happily take or swap diaper coupons.)
• Dinners out (Discuss within the family as to when and how often the cost of a dinner out is appropriate. A birthday gathering would be a legitimate expense for many families. But the “I don’t have time to cook” excuse is not acceptable when your family is on tight budget. Find another way to handle your dinner menus.)
• Donations to church, non-profit or charity (Direct as many charity donations as possible via purchases you make anyway. There are grocery store chains that will let you assign your rewards points to a school or church. You can save box tops for the schools. You can eat at the fundraiser dinners rather than at a restaurant. You can buy the gift cards from the school fundraisers. You can put freebies you earn on grocery coupons in the food pantry baskets.)
• Dry cleaning (Avoid dry-clean only attire. But, if you do have some dry-clean pieces, look up the labeling to see if home dry cleaning kits will work. I’ve used those kits and have been pleased with the results.)
• Electric bill (Get on the budget-pay plan if your electric bill swings quite a bit during the summer or winter seasons. Convert as many fixtures as possible to CFL bulbs. Look up the electricity usage rates for any new TV sets or appliances you plan to buy.)
• Fitness center or gym membership (Ask if your employer or health insurance plan provides fitness center discounts.)
• Fuel for the car (Drive fewer miles. I’ve done the math on my family’s gasoline expenses over the years, and that is the biggest factor in how much money goes into our gas tank.)
• Furniture (Take on the hand-me-down or second-hand furniture as much as possible. You may still need to buy an occasional bed or other piece on retail, and if so, watch for the sales.)
• Garden supplies (Get quality garden tools that will last many years, or take on someone else’s hand-me-downs).
• Greeting cards (Buy boxes of assorted cards, get the individual cards at the dollar stores, get crafty and make your own greeting cards.)
• Groceries (You know about coupons and watching the sales. But if you haven’t tried Angel Food Ministries or similar  grocery-by-the-box programs, what are you waiting for? These services were designed for families on tight budgets. And if your family is eligible for free or reduced-price lunches, WIC, food stamps or food pantry giveaways, sign up.)
• Haircuts (Pick a hairstyle that is inexpensive to maintain. I remember how costly it was to style my hair into a perm every four months. I don’t do that any more. I also don’t color my hair. The sprinkle of gray makes me look just old enough to know what I’m talking about.)
• Health insurance (Take the time to learn how your insurance policy, COBRA, state program or insurance alternative works so you don’t get stuck with more out-of-pocket expenses than necessary.)
• Hobbies (The best hobbies for families on a budget are those that take a lot of time and not a lot of money. As an alternative – ask for hobby items or supplies as birthday or Christmas gifts.)
• Home maintenance and repair (Learn as many DIY skills as possible, so that you have cash available for occasions when you need to hire a pro.)
• Income tax preparation fees (There are lots of free and low-cost services available for those who have simple tax returns. If you have a complicated tax return, then do the research to find a software package or a preparer you trust to do it right.)
• Internet service (I’m noticing that a lot of families these days keep the Internet connection going as long as possible. It is just too useful a tool for details like looking up assistance programs, the best price on a product or provide “stuck at home” entertainment. But if that expense has to go, there are a lot of places you can find free Internet. Many libraries, for example, have either free wireless or free computer labs.)
• Landline phone (Find the best option that works for you. My husband and I need to call out-of-state relatives on a frequent basis, and we’ve got a calling plan that does just that.)
• Lawn and garden care (Take advantage of free and low-cost resources at the public library and the cooperative extension service offices to learn how to care for your piece of dirt on the cheap.)
• Mortgage (If you can’t do anything about the mortgage payment itself, then look to other cost savings elsewhere in your household budget. Keep in mind that a part of your mortgage payment is most likely property taxes and / or homeowners insurance, and you may be able to get those expenses down on their own merits.)
• Natural gas or heating oil bill (Put this on the budget-pay plan to average out your monthly cost.)
• Newspapers, books and magazines (Make your decisions on which subscriptions or books to keep or buy based on which of those publications will help you save you money. Otherwise, go buy the pretty house and garden magazines at a thrift store or look up the hobby magazines at the library.)
• Personal care products (Learn how the drugstore rebate programs work because you can save a bundle of money on soap, vitamins, lipstick and shampoo by timing your purchases to those promotions.)
• Pet expenses (Stop buying toys, outfits and accessories. Your pet needs healthy food, appropriate shelter, medical care and your one-on-one attention.)
• Photos (Don’t get caught up in the “annual family photo” or seasonal baby photo ritual. If you can’t afford it every year, but want to have those keepsakes, then set up a family studio print every other year.)
• Postage (Check on the flat rate box options for shipping packages. Do on-line bill pays for at least some of your bills. Deliver greeting cards in person when you can.)
• Property taxes (Watch your tax assessment papers when they arrive each year. Do you think the assessor has a fair value and accurate details listed for your property? If not, follow up on the appeal process.)
• Property or renters insurance (Ask your agent for circumstances or bundles in which you can get a discount.)
• Rent (Don’t just look for the cheapest rent. Put the cheapest rent options into perspective with related expenses such as will you have to use a laundry center or get a storage unit? Will you have to drive farther to work or school every day?)
• School lunches (If your children are eligible for free or reduced-price school lunches, sign up. Pack the kids’ lunches only if you have medical issues to work around, or can consistently pack a lunch cheaper than you can buy it from school.)
• Snacks (Stop the vending machine purchases if you are on a budget. Buy your own snacks at the grocery store or food service store, and pack them in your lunch box, briefcase, desk or locker.)
• Sports, club and activity fees and equipment (Use second hand equipment as much as possible, especially when you are starting a new hobby. Put limits on the number of activities per family member.)
• Sports events attended (Go to the minor league events, or attend the major league or college events that are within close range of home, become a tailgate party expert rather than buy concession food.)
• Student loan payments (Learn how the deferment and forbearance policies work on your student loans. A six-month hold on student loan payments was a big help for me at one point. When you are in repayment, make sure to ask for and save the interest statements to send in with your tax returns.)
• Textbooks (Ask the professors which books are absolutely needed vs. which ones are helpful. Then you can seek out the best prices on required books, and consider options such as sharing a secondary reference book with a classmate.)
• Trash and recycling bill (We used to live in a neighborhood where 2 can trash service per week was cheaper than unlimited service per week. Guess what program we signed up for?)
• Tuition and class fees (If you have a student in high school, look into whatever programs are available in your district for college classes on a free or low-cost tuition basis. They might be called dual enrollment, post-secondary options, advanced placement or middle college. It will take 15 credit hours to knock a semester off the college graduation date, but even a couple of classes at the high school level can help with a schedule crunch later.)
• Turnpike and bridge tolls (We do use the Ohio Turnpike and Indiana Toll Road on occasion. If you also travel on those routes, look into the electronic pass services. They save money compared to cash rates if you are on the toll roads frequently enough.)
• Vacations (Stay-cations are no longer a trendy feature story for the news media. It’s the reality for a lot of families who are on tight budgets. If you still want to do the big family vacations, don’t eliminate them. Just plan them for every two to three years instead of every year.)
• Wireless phone (I did have pay-as-you go wireless for two years to save money; but eventually we had to get a real family calling plan. You know when you have a texting, talking or data freak in the family. If so, then do the research to find the best value for your money and save cash elsewhere in your budget.)
• Wedding plans (Spend only what you can afford on the wedding, reception and honeymoon. Shop around for the best packages if you have a big family and a reception will cost some bucks. And you can still have a church blessing or religious ceremony on a budget – I’ve seen it done on multiple occasions.)
• Work or college lunches (I’m a big fan of K-12 school lunches because the cost is very inexpensive compared to what can be packed in a lunch box. But brown bag lunches for work or on college campus are absolutely way cheaper than fast-food lunches)

Continue reading Are you looking at every household budget line item? …

From Monroe on a Budget.

Christmas Wrap, Gift Wrap, Gift Wrapping, Holiday Wrap

Wrapping paper is more than just functional to this family. They use Christmas wrap as a way to build family traditions and preserve special memories.

Continue reading Christmas Wrap, Gift Wrap, Gift Wrapping, Holiday Wrap …

From The Dollar Stretcher Featured Content.

Reader Mailbag #95

Each Monday, The Simple Dollar opens up the reader mailbags and answers ten to twenty simple questions offered up by the readers on personal finance topics and many other things. Got a question? Ask it in the comments. You might also enjoy the archive of earlier reader mailbags.

What was the best Christmas gift you received this year?
- Andrew

The most sentimental gift (by far) was a custom-made cookbook prepared by my wife and kids, including pictures of them and a ton of good recipes of many of their favorite foods (chosen by them). Never mind the photos – reading the recipes was fun because of how they connected so well with the person that selected them. For example, I saw the “chicken nuggets” recipe and immediately thought of my daughter, who for some inexplicable reason claims all of her food to be chicken nuggets. Broccoli is chicken nuggets. Scrambled eggs are chicken nuggets.

The most useful gift was probably also food-related. My parents gave me an 8″ Global chef’s knife, which will (aside from our paring knife) pretty much replace every other knife we own. It’s incredible to use.

Almost all of my gifts were excellent this year, though. Perhaps I’m just getting easier for other people to figure out.

Our local power company is offering this interest based savings plan to help pay for future bills when they jack up the rates in a year.

Is this something worth participating in you think? They are offering 7.5%, which seems generous but I feel like if you have the money up front to contribute to this ahead of time, than it’s not really going to help you save.

What I mean is, if you have a lot of extra money to throw at this program, than it’s a great thing but it defeats the purpose of helping those that won’t be able to afford the rate hike (like me).
- John

I’m not sure what you mean that it’s not going to help people save. Essentially, all the program does is give you a somewhat bigger bill now to reduce the size of your bill by even more in 2011 and beyond. I don’t think it’s intended to help those who can’t afford the higher rates.

If you are truly in financial hardship – whether it’s caused by a rate increase or not – you should look into the assistance programs offered by your power company. In this case, you’d be looking at this.

If you’re asking whether or not I would sign up for such a program in general, I would call them and ask to see specific numbers and estimates, but if it is what it appears to be, I would sign up. It would effectively be a 7.5% return on your money in what amounts to a savings account.

What was your favorite book of 2009?
- Jamie

It was easily Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann. It’s simultaneously a great portrait of 1970s New York, a collection of moving stories, and a thoughtful reflection on the role of chance in human life. I’ll read this one multiple times again in the future.

I’d also be remiss if I didn’t mention The Magicians by Lev Grossman, a wonderful fantasy novel that really draws on the impact that the stories we read as a child can come back and affect us as we grow older. I enjoyed it because it avoids the usual fantasy trap of making the heroes idealized versions of ourselves and instead makes them realistic people. Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell might be my favorite fantasy novel of the last decade or so, but this one isn’t too far off the mark.

I am 25, and my boyfriend and I are looking at buying a house in DC. We barely have enough money to scrape together a down payment, but really want to take of low interest rates, the tax credit, and low housing prices in our market. We’re young and are pretty good with saving, and I am sure that we will be able to build up an emergency fund again, but do you think it is foolish to use all of our money like this, even if it is for a great investment and the timing is right?
- Ashley

For one, I don’t believe buying a primary residence is ever a great investment. It’s too illiquid and too subject to local housing market fluctuations to ever be thought of as an investment.

If you “barely have enough money to scrape together a down payment” and are buying in the D.C. area, that means you’re going to be taking on a pretty huge mortgage. Never mind the low interest rate – your monthly payments are going to be enormous no matter how you slice it. Tack on top of that your home ownership costs (maintenance, etc.), the other services you’ll need, and the inevitable emergencies (like the inevitable exploding toilet) where you can’t just call a landlord and instead have to foot the bill yourself and you’ve got an enormous cash outlay that, based on your own comments, sounds like it might be beyond your means.

Live cheap. Build your career into something high-earning and stable. Save up enough so that your life won’t go into high-wire mode as soon as you sign the mortgage. Don’t worry about “taking advantage” of the current housing market.

We’re regulars at a family chain restaurant, and we got a server who had waited on us only once before. I was glad to see her because I remembered she was very friendly, complimenting what I wore and telling us about her music studies at a nearby college.

The first words out of her mouth were, “You stiffed me!” What??? We gaped, stammered and tried to recall if it was true. “I thought we got along great, so I couldn’t believe it when you didn’t leave a tip,” she said.

“No way!” I said. “I know we liked you, and we always tip here anyway.” I was recalling snatches of our conversation and a general warm, fuzzy feeling about her being a humanities major like myself. There was no way we intentionally stiffed her. I even began to wonder if another server stole the tip.

“You must have forgotten,” she said. “I actually cried about it because Mitch (another waiter…and now suspected thief) told me you always tip him well. So then I felt terrible and wondered what I did wrong.”

“Nothing!” I said. “We really do like you. We are SO sorry, and we’ll tip you double this time.”

“No, you don’t have to do that. I shouldn’t have said anything. It was probably my fault for talking so much that I distracted you.”

Maybe she was right. It was our oversight, and we were awful to doubt Mitch for even a moment. When we finished our meal, we left a $7 tip for $16 worth of food and still felt vaguely guilty as we walked out to our car.

Then it hit me. Can you believe the audacity of this woman? The guilt trip she sent us on has soured us against returning. It would be awkward to see her again knowing she expects and keeps tabs on tips and might confront us if we forgot, chose not to leave one or didn’t give enough by her estimation. I have never had this happen before (perhaps because I tip routinely and as generously as I can), and I’m still amazed.

Having worked in a restaurant, I know how hard it is and believe in rewarding decent service. I realize servers are paid hardly anything and depend on tips to get by. But gratuities are still optional, and I think it’s inappropriate to take a customer to task for not leaving one.

Any thoughts, Trent? How do you think most of your readers would have handled the situation?
- Lenore

Regardless of any “stiffing,” that was incredibly rude and unprofessional of the waitress in question. Unless the restaurant is a place that enforces a gratuity on the bill, she has no right to any tip. You give that tip at your own discretion.

Yes, it’s courteous and customary to tip for good service. Yes, many waiters/waitresses rely on tipping for income and need that money. That still doesn’t excuse the behavior.

I would likely have told the manager of the incident. An employee with that little respect for customers (and that little amount of discretion) would likely be a staff liability.

I would also not return to the restaurant for a while, but I would not be opposed to returning after a period of time (and some staff turnover).

Trent you have mentioned your dream of publishing non-fiction. What type? Murder & mayhem? Sci-Fi? Romance? Touchy-feely? Are there any authors you emulate?
- Brenda

Most of my fiction can best be described as “what if” fiction. Usually, I try to change one fundamental piece of information about how the world works, then try to look at ordinary life through the eyes of a normal person in this world.

For example, I wrote a novel-length piece of work a few years ago about the invention of an engine that allowed us to travel between stars, but to do so consumed enormous amounts of pure, salt-free water. Eventually, we no longer had enough water for everyone to drink, there were enormous wars fought over water, and a lot of people had left Earth to visit other stars but were basically out of contact. From there, I tell the story of three brothers (actually pretty closely based on myself and my two brothers) and how they grow up in this world, with outsized dreams of space travel and leaving Earth but with a devastating reality around them.

My last short story that I completed to a reasonable level of satisfaction revolved around a single woman a year after the discovery of a way for people to reproduce asexually with ease and essentially raise clones of themselves from infancy. She chose to become impregnated with her clone, but now feels it was a very poor choice.

That’s just the kind of stuff I like to write.

Is investing in non-hybridized seeds worthwhile?
- Kenny

As with any investment, you have to ask yourself two big things. First, what’s your goal with the investment? Second, what’s the risk of the investment?

Non-hybridized seeds can be really worthwhile – if you’re an avid gardener. The big advantage of non-hybridized seeds is that they allow you to harvest seeds each year, then plant them the following year. You can even do your own plant breeding if you so wish. This is valuable if you’re into gardening or have beliefs that revolve around avoiding hybridized seeds.

There’s a risk, though. You can’t just let seeds sit for a large number of years – they simply won’t grow. You have to grow them regularly to maintain your seed bank.

If you don’t live in a place where you can easily grow your seeds, non-hybridized seeds are a waste of money. You need to be able to replenish your own stores or else the seeds will go bad after a few years.

Have you ever considered starting a “Simple Dollar” fantasy baseball league where you participate with a number of readers? You could set it up on Yahoo! Sports yourself, join the league, then allow people to sign up by giving out a code on the site.
- Allie

That’s actually a pretty good idea. I usually participate in three (yes, three) fantasy baseball leagues in a given year and it looks like at least one of my regular ones is now defunct due to the number of people who are either unable to play or have chosen to resign.

If you would actually be interested in participating in such a thing, leave a comment for this mailbag. If I see a lot of comments, I’ll start one in March. If I don’t see many comments, I’ll just let this sleeping dog lie.

Is there ever a situation where you think it’s appropriate to take out a loan instead of paying cash?
- Bill

I have no problem with home mortgages if you’re in a situation where you can get a low-interest loan and your payments are low compared to the rental costs of something comparable in the area.

I also don’t have a problem with taking out a loan with no interest at all as long as you already have the cash to cover the debt. Keep the cash yourself in a separate savings account, set up automatic payments from that account, then just let it be until the loan is paid off. You’ll have cash left sitting in the account.

In much the same way, I have no problem with credit card use as long as you pay the balance off in full each month.

The real problem with any debt is the interest you have to pay. That interest is basically a huge price for impatience – one of our most dangerous human impulses.

I’m a new dad, my daughter is great. She’s 11 weeks now. I’m fortunate that we have all of the financial stuff in order. I do have a demanding job, but I make it a priority to leave by 5 to spend time with my daughter before she sleeps for the night.

I’m ethnically Chinese although I never learned formally. After my daughter was born I now have this overwhelming desire to teach her Chinese but I will have to learn it too to keep it up (my wife is not Chinese). Otherwise she will fall into the same trap I fell into as a child.

My question is, I firmly believe I can learn Chinese with 2 hours a week private lessons, plus 30 mins homework a night. But, I also cannot bear being late to see my daughter, and the thought of cutting out all this time for me to learn something, no matter how beneficial is driving me insane. What’s your take? Is this a quality investment of time, or shall I just enjoy my daughter and our time together?
- Arthur

Again, this is a question about investment. I think you need to sit down and ask yourself what the reward for this investment of time actually is.

It seems that you want your child to be in touch with his/her heritage, which is a noble goal. The real question is how highly that goal ranks in comparison to the also-important goal of spending a lot of time with your child.

I can’t answer that question for you because each one of us values different things on a personal level. For me, I would value the time I spend with my child. I would probably do something like purchase a copy of Rosetta Stone and spend some time each evening doing the program with my child, learning the language together. While it might not be as enriching as actually taking the classes, it would still teach some of the language and, perhaps more importantly, it would allow you to do it with your child.

Got any questions? Ask them in the comments and I’ll try to include them in a future reader mailbag.

Continue reading Reader Mailbag #95 …

From The Simple Dollar.

Doily Canvas Gift Bags: {Crafty How-To}

Today’s feature is from Ashley Ann with this tutorial for making a lovely DIY Doily Canvas Bag:
Here’s some ideas for using it as a Christmas gift:
For a cook: fill it with cooking supplies
For a gardner: fill it with gardening supplies
For a teacher: lots of fake wood painted apples (I’m kidding)…maybe find out an activity they [...]

• Also See These Tips:
• Vintage Doily Project Idea: Doily Bowls
• 3 DIY Gift Baskets: Ideas & How-To
• Weekend Project: Paint A Floor Canvas

Continue reading Doily Canvas Gift Bags: {Crafty How-To} …

From TipNut.com.

Christmas Thank you Notes

From: Robin Souder
At Christmas time, the kids are so excited to get
the mail and find greetings from loved ones and
friends.  Although Christmas cards are dwindling
more and more with each year as the technology
age expands, the acknowledgement and gratitude of
a gift is still of crucial importance in our
family.  As the cards come in, I ask the children
to pick out their favorite designs.

Most of the time, the opposite side of the front
of a Christmas card is blank.  In that case, I
cut the front from the card and turn it into a
postcard for my kids to use as a thank you
postcard, a notecard, or a gift tag.

As a thank you for a Christmas gift, the front of
the card is perfect.  I draw a line down the
center of the blank side vertically to resemble a
postcard.  I let the child write the thank you
message on the left side with the address on the
right. Postage for postcards is cheaper than a
letter.

I know most people will say that an email is even
cheaper, but I am finding that those who send a
gift, love seeing the handwritten thank you of a
child, or an adult for that matter.  ( especially
those gift givers who are from an older
generation.)

Cherish those who have come before us, as they
have enlightened us with the beauty of
personality, character and the work of the hands!

Continue reading Christmas Thank you Notes …

From Living On A Dime Blog » Living On A Dime Blog.

Free Christmas Planner & ABC Gift Guide

Have you heard of The Executive Homemaker? I love her website! Right now, she has a free Christmas planner to help with all your planning needs! From parties to gift giving, she has a form and a plan for EVERYTHING!

You can download your free copy by clicking HERE.

Also, The Hillbilly Housewife also has a nice little book called the ABC’s of Gift Giving, with gift ideas for each letter of the alphabet. Give it a look. I be you’ll find something you can use! Download it HERE.

Continue reading Free Christmas Planner & ABC Gift Guide …

From Econobusters.

Teenagers and Expensive Clothes

Monica writes in:

I used to buy my daughter several new outfits before the start of the school year and then a few more items for Christmas. This worked well when she was less picky about her clothes. The last few years, though, she’s wanted nothing but a few specific brands of clothing – and those brands are expensive. I want her to have plenty of clothes to wear during the school year, but I don’t want to go broke during the process. What do you suggest?

I actually went through this myself when I was a teenager, but instead of wanting trendy clothes, I mostly just wanted high-end basketball shoes. I was usually quite content just wearing a tee shirt and whatever jeans were available, but the one thing I always desired were pairs of Reebok Pumps or Nike Air Jordans.

Now that the roles are reversed, I find myself looking ahead to my own children’s teenage years as well as looking back at how my parents handled such situations on a small budget. Here are the tactics that worked well.

Give clothes as a birthday gift or Christmas gift. This way, they get the clothes they want, but you’re not saddled with an additional cost, because your birthday gift expenses goes towards clothes instead. My parents did this for me a few years, buying me nice shoes for my birthday instead of as a part of going back to school.

Give them a “back to school” budget. State that you’ll give them a certain amount of money – say, $100 – to spend on back to school clothes with a basic requirement of buying so many pants, so many shirts, etc. Then let them make the decisions. They may be able to afford one “awesome” pair of jeans, but the rest will be pocket tee shirts.

Start your shopping at a thrift store. Let them dig through the racks and see what they’ll find. I’m often shocked at the amazingly good stuff available at thrift stores – my only explanation is people with way too much money and way too many consumerist values are jettisoning perfectly good stuff.

Buy them all low end stuff, then give them a certain amount of clothes allowance to buy more. In other words, buy everything they need at a minimum level of cost, then give them a certain amount with which to buy additional items – whatever they’d like. This lets them fill out the rest of their wardrobe with whatever “trendy” items they want.

You don’t simply have to buy a truckload of new “hot this moment” items for your child to wear each year. Instead, put some forethought into it and some limits. Let your child be involved in making the tough choices. After all, budgeting, planning, and making hard choices is part of growing up.

Continue reading Teenagers and Expensive Clothes …

From The Simple Dollar.

Great Frugal Gift Idea

I don’t normally do things like this, but this has been such a hit with the folks I’ve given it to, that I’m going to share it here. The Pioneer Woman has her new cookbook out and it’s only $10.75 on Amazon right now (regularly $27.50). I’ve purchased three and given two away (I actually paid $13-something for mine). This is a GORGEOUS, hard cover cookbook. Buy three and you get free shipping.

This is an AMAZING cookbook and has been a huge hit with the friends I’ve given it to. Ree includes lots of anecdotes and commentary to make each recipe interesting, plus little stories about life on the ranch as well as her pre-ranch life. The recipes all have detailed pictures each and every step of the way and the food is yuuuuummmmmy! (Farmhouse fare, with a city twist) The book is also interspersed throughout with amazing photographs of life on the ranch.

I gave my last copy to a friend the other night. I have a rule with my friends that they get gifts when I find something I think they’ll like and not necessarily on a birthday or holiday. I’m not sure she was totally thrilled when I gave it to her but called the next day to say that she’d stayed up until the wee hours reading in bed. Then she emailed the next day to share again how much she loved it and that her tough guy cattle ranch husband was reading through it right then!

So….if you’re looking for an inexpensive, but quality gift, this is a good one. I gave it to one friend because the food is “realistic” and I thought the step-by-step pictures would be a help in teaching her four daughters to cook. I got it for my other friend because she is also a displaced “city girl” and I knew she’d enjoy Ree’s stories of adapting to farm life, as well as the recipes and photographs.

Pair the cookbook with a nifty kitchen gadget and you’ve got a great Christmas gift out of the way.

Continue reading Great Frugal Gift Idea …

From Econobusters.

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