The Mighty Flexible Greenback, Part 2

Last week I wrote about saving money by uncovering hidden fees and other sneaky money-zappers.  I for one get a little ache in my stomach when thinking about combing through statements and making phone calls.  So I’m glad that’s over.  This week is a little more fun – the challenge is to lower food and household expenses and I think I’ve come up with some creative ways to do it.

First step: Take inventory - grab a notepad and jot down the items in your kitchen, linen closets, laundry and bathroom.  Almost out of dish soap or toilet paper?  Make a note.  You can even go so far as to estimate how long it takes you to go through each item so you can calculate these costs into your monthly and yearly budgets (but if that seems a little too anal-retentive, just having an idea of what you use and don’t use often is good enough)

Save on food - I’ve never been a coupon clipper, but spending a little time perusing the local circulars could save you a wad of cash and give you an excuse to try something different (i.e., brussel sprout sale). Now that you know what’s in your pantry and fridge, I challenge you to create a budget mealplan based on weekly grocery specials.  I limit my shopping to 1-2 stores and then visit the farmer’s market once a week, so I end up shopping 2-3 times which makes buying food a part of my lifestyle and I like it.  I feel connected to what I’m eating and I make less bad decisions that way.  Visit LocalHarvest to find a farmers market near you.

How about getting free food? Yes, free. Plant a garden.  My black thumb quickly became a little greener when I realized how much money I could save by growing some of my staple ingredients myself.  I have a small patio and I’m betting you at least have a window in your place, so no excuses.  Herbs are expensive to buy and many like basil, thyme, cilantro and oregano are called for in tons of dishes.  You can buy starter plants for about $2-$3 at any nursery or Home Depot and once you learn to love them they’ll love you back over and over again.

Have an old clove of garlic that sprouted a tail?  Don’t throw it away!  Bury it in some soil and grow a whole new head.  Lettuce is one of the simplest things to grow, and fresh lettuce would probably inspire you to eat more salad.

The 3 cloves I planted last week are sprouting already

Red, orange and yellow peppers average $1.50 per pepper and I buy all three on a weekly basis!  That means I could save almost $20 a month by planting $9 worth of plants once.  Add in the bi-weekly herbs at $3 a bunch and that’s a nice chunk off the monthly grocery bill.  Having an organic garden means cheap and safe food.

If you’re not keen on gardening, why not share a CSA basket with a friend or neighbor?  CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture, which collaborates with local farms to distribute whatever it is that they’re growing right now.  What it means for you is a weekly, bi-weekly or monthly baskets of fresh goodies delivered to your door.  It helps keep local, family owned farms in business and many, whether certified or not, use organic practices.  The prices are comparable to what you would pay in-store but if you opt to split it with someone it’s actually cheaper, and you won’t be left with a bunch of parsnips one week that you don’t know what to do with…

If you do have a couple things growing, look for a local food swap.  This will allow you to get rid of your extra produce in exchange for things that other people grow.

Save on household items -

Why bother keeping up with the Jones’s (or Kardashians) when you can just borrow their cool stuff?  It’s kind of a lame reference, but what I’m getting at is the concept of sharing instead of topping.   Household equipment like kitchen gadgets, vacuums, even folding tables and chairs for your upcoming dinner party can be pricey items that take up space and rarely get used.  Rather than  running to Target with a credit card, hop online to Neighborgoods.com or Neighborrow.com and find a local sharing network.  You can list items you’re in need of and things you’re willing to lend out to a responsible ‘neighbor’ – anything from food processors to books and music.  It’s free and safe, and you may even make some new friends.

If you are in the market to purchase something, check Craigslist first.  You can find amazing deals on gently used items and the process can be entertaining because you never know what you’ll stumble across.  The best time to look is late in the week or early weekend mornings; that’s when people decide to finally get rid of the ____ that’s been sitting by the door for a month.  It’s also a good time to look for estate and garage sales, but get out early while the deals are happening.

Online shopping can save you a lot of money and time because it’s easy to find exactly what you’re looking for.  Between the low overhead of online storefronts, the competitive nature of the industry, and coupon websites like couponcabin.com, retailmenot.com and delio.com you can find discounts and deals like free shipping.  I try to support small businesses and shop for fair trade, organic and recycled/reclaimed materials, all of which are easy to find online these days.  Another bonus is that you can read reviews and feel confident about what and who you’re buying from.

What I’ve discovered is that saving money is about changing the way you think about money and the way you see your lifestyle.  I’m not just trying to pinch pennies, I’m trying to take back control over what I spend money on.  I want a certain quality of life, regardless on how much expendable income we have.  By doing things like growing basic foods, meeting community members and buying from local and/or small businesses I am creating something that feels a little more human, and saving money then becomes the perk.

Join me next week for Part 3 of this series – it’s all about fun.

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