In my 20's I used to go shopping at Schnucks with my ex. We would go and spend about 200 bucks on food for just the two of us. It seemed fine at the time. We had a little affordable apartment with a roommate and we could do that. Over time, after having kids and being poor as fuck, I found that aldi is the absolute shit or shop-n-save, as aldi doesn't have a few things I might need.
Anyway, those 200 dollar grocery shopping sprees seem so dumb to me now. I could have two carts full for 200 bucks at aldi and shop-n-save, schnucks is high dollar, not the cheap kind of dollars I have. And 200 bucks I can stretch into a month for four people: although, my kids are very young right now so don't eat a whole hell of alot.
Here's what has happened to me ten years later, three kids and single. I cut corners every little spot that I can, one of them is I quit buying trash bags. Yep no trash bags anymore. Waste of money. First I used to spend the 6 cents at aldis to get brown paper bags-they stand up! Perfect for trash, you don't even need a can. The only thing is, if there is something damp or wet you have to tie it up in a plastic bag before tossing it in. Anyway, I used to think I was a rebel and pretty fuckin cool, of course. Now my rebel days consist of hitting up shop-n-save and stealing their free brown paper bags for my trash. I feel guilty when I do it. I am actually looking around as I grab a small stack thinking someone might call me out and make me put them back.
Come to think of it in my 20's was the only time in my life I got to splurge on spending. I had no kids, had either a husband or boyfriend who worked and always another roommate, bills were very low. I spent $ on all kinds of things. Now that I have children that I am raising on my own I have gone back to my original routes as a DIYer. I grew up with 9 brothers and sisters. We were not do-it-yourselfers because it was cool, it was a necessity. If you wanted something nice we took an old thing we already had and made it better by painting it and changing it, you found a way to earn the $ to buy it yourself, make it from scratch or wait the entire year for maybe Santa to get it for you.
Now for cutting spending:
I stop into thrift stores on a regular basis, but only buy what you actually need. Thrifting is not helpful if you just buy things you don't need. I have a list of things I need and then wait patiently until it's at a thrift store for a few bucks: like a coffee table, bed frame, shelves that type of thing.
When grocery shopping do not waste money on pre-made anything. You can make almost all of it and any of it yourself. I cook alot on the weekends making soups, casseroles, stocks, stews and even yogurt. You can make an entire half gallon of yogurt for under 3 bucks and its actually really easy
Use vinegar for laundry detergent: 2 bucks a gallon
Dollar Tree is pretty great
The library is free for books and movies
Parks and picnics for outings with the kiddos
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