In the past few months we have started doing things that we used to do at the beginning of our marriage. DaddyK was in the military and we didn't need anything but a roof over our heads, a little food, and each other.
But military pay is notoriously inadequate and we had to live. One of the things we did was keep a change jar. DK has never liked to carry change, so this was perfect. At the end of each day he would dump his change into a big old water bottle. Some of you will remember the big glass bottles that weight a ton even when they were empty.
After a few months of pinching pennies, we realized that we could use the "change jar" to make it through the last week of the month. It worked fine. We learned to buy the store brand bread, cash in any deposit bottles and walk to the grocery store, Mayfair Market was still alive then and they would let us take the shopping cart home, knowing that we would return it.
I learned how to make gingerbread, from scratch, we popped corn and used no butter, and learned how to drink unsweetened ice tea. An occasional pop for me and beer for DK was a real treat. As time went on we also realized the value of the day old bread stores.
A couple of months ago they stopped making our favorite microwave pop corn, and we didn't like any other brands, besides that it had gotten so $$$$$$ that we just couldn't do anymore.
People, a bag of pop corn cost about $1.28 , and we get about 30 small poppings. The microwave stuff is about $2.50 for 12 poppings. The chemicals and additives in that stuff are enough to kill a healthy horse.
We have been drinking unsweetened tea for years now, I guys we got used to it and saw no reason to change back. In fact sweetened tea tastes nasty to me now.
Today, we went to the day old bread store here in town. The bread DK likes is almost $4.00 a loaf. We got a comperable brand 2 loaves for $4.00. English muffins (my breakfast) were alot cheaper, the weren't the nook and cranny brand but when I put homemade pomegranate jelly on them who really cares.
We proceeded to a low cost grocery ( we a boycotting Wally World) and found most of what we needed at lower prices then our neighborhood Hy-price grocer. Their produce wasn't too bad, the only things we really had to go to the "Price Palace" for was a few things we couldn't find and lunch meat, somethings you just need to get the good stuff.
We did good. It brings back the days of $00.25 a loaf bread and a dozen eggs for $00.50.
But I don't think we could get a slice of bread for a quarter.
To My Youngest
1 day ago
9 comments:
funny. MM and I both had change jars. We used ours when we had dire need after throwing all our hard earned money at the down payment on a house. But we still have change jars that we fill.
Your blog is terrific!
Here is the url of the blog from the Archives of the Sandusky Library, if you care to take a look:
http://sanduskyhistory.blogspot.com
Sandusky Library- Your Woolworth looked just like store in my hometown, inside and out, luncheon counter included. It is long since gone, but there are many beautiful historical buildings left in town. My Dad worked in the old jail that is now called the "Bastille" and has had a life as a museum and a restaurant. The old courthouse is still there, I don't know what it is used for now. The original Carnegie is a museum. The old "Fox" Theater that my parents worked in as teenagers is still there as a dinner theater.
I don't know if they have a web sight, but the town is Hanford, California. It was like growing up on the set of "Happy Days".
mmmm pomegranet jelly.... Xoxo
Nancy - this is great! I remember, I remember!
We warehouse shop and have both a freezer and fridge with freezer outside. We go once a month, writing a list as we run out of things during the month. Warehousing can be very good if you learn to stick to a list and buy only the things that are worth buying in bulk. For instance, I can buy steel cut oatmeal in bulk at Trader Joes for $1.00 a pound, I get 3 lbs at a time. Costco has everyday oatmeal with Barbara Bush on the front brand which I think is lousy, both the instant and the 5 minute. I buy my spices in bulk at Trader Joes too, by this I mean bins. Back to Costco, things that are worth the effort at Costco are paper towels, the Kirkland Brand are thick and a substantial square. Napkins, which you get Vanity Fair in a 600 napkin bag. I get Kirkland brand toilet paper which comes in individual wrapped roll with 24 to a pack. Other Kirkland things we like are wine, believe it or not, they are made by all the best wineries in Napa/Sonoma and other California areas. We get all baked goods, salad stuff, cheeses and meats there, then go home and I have a food saver to repackage foods to two people servings, or however much you need. The foodsaver has saved us money on ziplocs and the landfill issues as living here has made us be a little more green, we are learning.....lol The extras we buy there are books as they are half the price of a book store, then when we have read them we take them to the used book store and get credit there for books. Sometimes on a need basis we get clothes, socks, underwear and some seasonal items. Anyway, this is our way to save money. Also, we save money on gas running to the store so much.
Oh, and I forgot, the bread we buy at Costco has no flour and lots of grains, we feel it is more healthy as well. It tastes a lot like Ezekiel bread which is really popular too. Doctors say cut out as much white as you can out of your diet. We also eat brown rice and bulk grains, beans. So you can eat well and don't have to eat crap because thats all you can afford. Its there for the taking.
Hey Ms. Nana, when do you turn 60? One little thing that happens then will really help financially too, What I did was regroup and start socking it away to Roth IRA's and get the tax breaks. In other words act as if you never got it.
FlyFishermansWife, I turn 60 in March 2011, we have already done some of the pre-filing paperwork.I never thought I'd look forward to turning 60.
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