I’m gradually replacing all my incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. These bulbs are fairly pricey–but everything I’ve read says that these CF bulbs are not only more energy efficient, but they also last longer than incandescent bulbs.
Just to find out how long they last, I’m using a permanent marker to record the date when I install the CF bulbs in various lamps.
Here’s where you can find the REAL cost of an item. In this case, using the recommended amount of detergent costs a little more than 20 cents per load of laundry.
Check the unit prices to determine the cost per serving of food.
The last time that I remember that the economy tanked was in the late 1970s/early 1980s. And that’s the last time I remember using coupons, which were usually clipped from the newspaper or the supermarket circular.
Fast forward to 2008. Printable coupons are available at coolsavings.com.
This week, there are coupons for: Rice-a-roni, Near East (the rice pilaf and couscous company), Rubbermaid storage containers (more economical and “greener” than single-use plastic bags), Simple Green spray cleaner, and Ben & Jerry’s ice cream.
One caution about using manufacturers’ coupons: Sometimes the store brand is still cheaper than a national brand–even after the coupon savings. So do the math before you buy.
But if there’s a national brand product that’s a real favorite or one that you’ve determined is a higher quality, tastes better or works better than a store brand, then the coupon is probably worthwhile.
If anyone knows of other websites that offer printable manufacturers coupons, please sent the URL.
Has anyone cut back on using their air conditioning? How high are your summer time electric bills?
Has anyone started using the new Loaves & Fishes consignment store?
The store is called “Encore.”
We’re looking for some first-person experiences: are the prices reasonable? Is there good-quality merchandise? How much does the store pay for items that are brought in for re-sale?
No purchase necessary. Well, almost nothing to buy.
Consider: for less than $10 you can dry all your laundry in an energy-efficient manner.
It’s called a clothes line, with clothes pins.
Unless you live with a homeowners association that prohibits public displays of unmentionables, you can dry your laundry al fresco.
I don’t have a yard, but I do have a clothesline. It’s strung up on my patio, which is surrounded by a stonewall. No one can see it–except Sally my next-door neighbor and she can see it only if she looks down from her bedroom window. She hasn’t complained.
With the current warm weather, my wet laundry dried in about four hours.
On this forum, cheapness is virtue; penny-pincher is a compliment.
The blog was created for those of us who are scrimping and saving–and searching for ways to do more of it.
Today’s suggestion comes from an experience I had many years ago when I worked at a large investment company, in a department that looked like a scene from the Melanie Griffith movie “Working Girl.” There were rows and rows of desks where many women worked side by side. At one point, several of us formed a “lunch club.” There were six of us, if I remember correctly, who took turns making lunch for the others. We had a calendar and each of us signed up for a day when we were responsible for the noon meal.
It was usually a casserole or some sort of stir-fry that could be easily reheated. I think we probably had a budget—the ingredients couldn’t cost more than $10—but that was many years ago, and probably needs to be adjusted for the current economy.
It worked quite well for us: we all tried someone else’s recipes (and later exchanged them); it saved us time and money since we didn’t need to go out to buy lunch; the food was generally much more nutritious than the fast food that we too often purchased. And we each had to make lunch only once every six days.
Off hand, I think King Ranch Chicken would work well; also lasagna.
Okay, now it’s your turn: Any other ideas? Recipes to share? Let’s hear from you!
