Finding Money To Throw At Debt

Fall is here in Arizona and finally October 3rd, our 100 + temperatures are beginning to go down! Which means Chuck and I will be able to turn off our air-conditioner and save $100 a month til April. That will be an extra $600 money found to throw at our credit card bills!

Every Wednesday I check the grocery store sale adds we get in the mail to see  what sales we can take advantage of.

Bargain Believer has a blog where she lists the weekly grocery bargains at various stores. I check those too online.


This week at Fry’s I bought cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese , Fleishmans  yeast and San Mariano Italian tomatoes in a can to make homemade pizza for dinner. These items were on sale;)   Plus it was was the first Wednesday of the month , so Seniors saved an extra 10% on our entire bill! And I saved  not eating out!

These are  simple ways to save/earn money to have extra to pay down debt without feeling the pinch of a tight budget.

Oh,  Chuck and I are going back to Fry’s Friday or Saturday to take advantage of the two day only sale items. We’re buying five 16 oz cans of Planters Peanuts. I already loaded them on my Fry’s app on my phone. Stockpiling to make the most of good deals .💰

FREE Dinner For Learning A New Skill

My husband Chuck and I keep an eye out for FREEBIES offered by local restaurants to make eating out affordable.

Bargain Believer and Alicia's Deals are sites that give great deals.

Mad Greens had a free offer of a salad of your choice by just loading a digital coupon on your  cell phone.

  I ordered a Edgar Allen Poe with steak, spring mix, cheddar cheese, bell peppers, walnuts, pears and ranch dressing.  Chuck got a Don Quixote with grilled shrimp, spring mix, avocado, Jack cheese and ranch dressing. Both salads were large and $10 each but FREE with the digital coupon.

It's well worth the effort and great for our brains to learn the skill of following a websites link and loading these free coupons to our phones.

Ask your children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews or a teenager to tutor you;)

Our daughters showed us how to do it;)

A perk of being retired having time to eat out and learn new skills!

Buying In Bulk Savings

My secret to keeping motivated in my goal of bringing my credit card debt to a zero balance is reading blogs of other retirees who encourage living simply. I've learned how to tweak my budget to find extra money.

I know saving $1.00 at Mc Donald's by bringing my own Coke/Tea doesn't seem like alot. It almost seems silly.

But what if I find find 10 things that save me $1.00? Thats $10.00. How about finding ten ways to save $10.00? Cutting back on things I hardly notice quickly adds up to $100.00 in savings/earnings! Would an extra $100.00 a month help?

We cut our cable bill by buying our own router and modem. This brings our basic Cox Cable bill to $33.00 a month. So we save $25.00 a month and still enjoy Wi fi.

 We watch antenna t.v. with free channels for news, classic movies, and on Saturday night PBS channel 8 has the Lawrence Welk show our 11 month old granddaughter Addy loves. Can't scrimp on that!

Got rid of our land line saving us $10.00 a month. We have our cell phones. It was time for our upgrades so got our Apple 5 C's for free!

For our anniversary our generous children gave us a reverse osmosis water filter saving us another $30.00 a month and our backs in hauling bottles of water from the store.

Extras that we don't even miss have saved us $65.00 a month!

The latest thing I've been experimenting with to save/find money is buying in bulk! I bought shampoo by the half gallon. I put shampo in little squeeze bottles which makes your shampoo last longer and less waste down the drain.

At Walmart I found the Ajax Lemon Dish Detergent in a large 90 ounce size which saves me. I put that in a small dispencer which cuts down on waste.

Was very excited at Safeway to find Safeway Home Free and Clear Liquid Laundry Detergent that washes 96 loads on sale for $9.99 and if you bought 3 you got $6.00 off. Cha Ching!

Costco sells bulk 13.5 size Arm and Hammer Baking Soda which I use for baking and to whiten each load of laundry.

 Also Costco has large bottles of white vinegar which is amazing as a natural fabric softener with no fragrance.

I buy paper towels, Jergens hand soap, foil, parchment paper, zip lock bags at the Dollar Store. Have been buying toilet paper at the Dollar Tree and 175 count box of tissue. But will have my husband crunch the numbers and compare which is more of a bargain Dollar Tree or Costco in bulk? Will let you know;)

Buying in bulk has saved me money each month!

By tweaking our budget and buying in bulk we've been able to pay off two credit cards! Debt that we've been carrying many years!

What little things have you done to tweak your budget and save/find money?

Frugaling

Frugaling is a verb that means: The act and the art of maximizing your budget and minimizing costs.  

It's a thoughtful and purposeful activity that helps your financial course see a better future.

This is my story and advice of getting back my freedom from credit card debt.    

 My journey of going back to square one= zero debt. 

So I took a hard look at my lifestyle and realized it doesn't take alot to make me happy. Spending time with my family makes me happy.

 I'm happy with home cooked meals and shopping weekly sales!

For example Albertsons's had a gallon of milk on sale for $1.99 so I bought two (thats a $2.00 savings.) Fry's had large eggs on sale for 99 cents a dozen which is another ($2.00 savings!)

My husband and I  I love eating out! I'm going to experiment with frugaling to see if I can eat out and enjoy saving at the same time.

This morning I went to Mc Donald's and brown bagged (in my case it's a cute pink insulated bag!) 

Ordered a Sausage Biscuit for $1.08. Brought my own little container of gravy frugaling my way into a $5.00 savings if I had ordered biscuits, gravy, and a sausage patty at a restaurant.

Brought my own iced tea for a $1.00 savings.

Have you signed up for your Circle K app? 

Today the freebie was a slice of lemon cake which saved me $1.40. 

Making my savings for Monday morning so far a grand total of $11.40. 

Money I can now throw at my credit card debt. And I still had fun eating out and shopping.

How about saving money by creative eating out? My favorite mexican restaurant is Los Compadres they have the best enchiladas. 

I ordered one pint of enchilada sauce for $1.75. At home for dinner I fried 10 corn toritillas, chopped up yellow onion, cooked some chicken tenders (marinated in italian dressing) on my George Forman Grill, shreded cheese and made Chicken Enchiladas.

If I closed my eyes I felt like I was at Los Compadres! 

10 enchiladas only cost me $1.75 rather than $30.00. Made my own fried rice.

Pizza Hut had a coupon this week for any size pizza, any number of toppings, and any crust for $10.00 carry out only. 

We ordered one large pan pizza with Italian sausage, peperonni, bell peppers, red onion, mushrooms, black olives, jalapenos and pineapple. It pays to use coupons!

Found a coupon for Kentucky Fried Chicken $4.99 for four whole wings, mashed potatoes & gravy, biscuit and soda. 

So last night Chuck and I had take-out. I cooked around this making coleslaw and bqd beans. Saving on the sides while enjoying a fun meal.

My late brother-in-law saved every penny he earned. He would never go out to eat,  made a big pot of lentil soup and eat only that all week. He did save up $100,000 dollars but when he died didn't even have any enjoyment for all that money, only a big bank account.

So how can I have a happy lifestyle in the lowest amount of spending possible, while maximizing my savings?

Have you tried Frugaling it's fun!

Economic Eating Out

My husband I love eating breakfast out. I've been experimenting with ways to eat out and still live happily below our means. Today I found a way to enjoy biscuits & gravy with a sausage patty for $1.08.

Mc Donalds has a Sausage Biscuit on their $1.00 menu.

I ordered two Sausage Biscuits to go. When I got home made homemade gravy like this:

Put 1 Tablespoon of (saved) bacon grease in a pan...
added 2 Tablespoons of unbleached flour... (browned it)...
added milk, salt & pepper to taste.

Fried my husband and I two over medium eggs. And we had eggs, biscuits and gravy and a delicious sausage patty. For $1.08 each!

How about a healthy alternative when eating out? My biggest complaints is: "I don't have time to prepare a healthy meal I'm too busy!"

My sister Donna, is very creative when it comes to shopping and finding good buys. When I was first married and my girls were little she mentored me and taught me how to shop coupons, sales and grand openings!. Donna texted me a picture of her breakfast. She was at Whole Foods Market and took advantage of the Salad Bar for a healthy fast breakfast. In her container she had a scoop of Quinoa with coconut milk, a dip of kale salad, a boiled egg, almonds and a mandarin orange slice for only $2.50!

When I saw her breakfast choices at first I was puzzled? Why such a strange combination?

I Googled the benefits of Quinoa. It's a super grain loaded with nutrients. Gluten free, high protein, low in glycemic index, which prevents a sudden spike in blood sugar. Kale is fat free, high in fiber, lowers blood sugar, curbs overeating, high in antioxidants. Boiled egg is great source of protein, as are almonds to keep blood sugar stable. And Mandarin Orange slice is high in vitamin C, plus taste delicious.

Great choices for $2.50 for the body to start the day and NO COOKING it's all prepared for you! 

Wednesdays Whole Foods salad bar is on sale for $2.00 off it's regular price of $8.99 a pound. The trick is to just buy a third of a pound of fresh goodies!   

Think I'll try Whole Foods Salad Bar soon and see what healthy choices I can make for $2.50. Thinking I'd add a little mayonaise and mustard to my boiled egg to make it a deviled egg!

Yesterdays Meatloaf Is Todays Sloppy Joes

Remember that song Adam Sandler wrote "Lunch Lady Land"? "Yesterdays meatloaf is todays Sloppy Joes." With a little creative thinking it's possible to use yesterdays leftovers and make them into something totally different your family will love.

For lunch I boiled 12 boneles skinless chicken tenders shredded celery, carrots and onions, salt and pepper to make a delicious broth.

With 6 chicken tenders I made chicken salad. Chopped up the chicken, adding a little shredded red onion, shredded celery, dried cranberries, pecans, apples, mayonaise, salt and pepper.

Did you know at Pita Jungle you can buy a fresh warm, pita for only 39 cents? I will take a scoop of chicken salad and buy a pita and make a delicious lunch. Or I might even go to Fry's and purchase 1/4 cup of their tuna salad, buy a Pita Jungle pita and have a delicious lunch. (That's how I make eating out more affordable.) It costs me 39 cents with my own filling instead of $5.00.

For dinner I made chicken pot pie using left over 6 pieces of chicken and broth, chopped up 2 potatoes, 1 carrot and boiled them til tender.

Chopped up the chicken in chunks and added it to the broth with salt and pepper, threw in frozen peas and corn, the potatoes and carrots, thickened it with milk with flour mixed in.

Poured in a pie tin. Salt & pepper to taste. Made a top crust only useing 1/2 box of Betty Crocker Pie Crust (Smart & Final $2.09 since I only used 1/2 the cost was $1.04 :) Popped it into the oven @425.

My husband had 3 servings, our daughter loved it and praised me for a delicious dinner.

 If I had purchased 3 chicken pot pies at KFC it would have been $15.00 plus the gas to pick it up.

Or if I felt like Mexican food I could take the cooked chicken tenders, shred them and mix with two tablespoons of salsa, add salt & pepper. Fry corn tortillas in canola oil to soften. Add a tablespoon of chicken mixture roll into little flutes or taquitos. Fry in canola oil til crispy. Serve with guacomole & salsa.

Have you seen "The 100 Foot Journey"? Did it make you hungry for Chicken Curry? I had leftover boiled chicken so I cut it into chunks, heated 2 tablespoons of olive oil, chopped up 1/2 onion and brown with chicken. Poured in 2 cups of broth, chopped up potatoes and simmerred til soft. Took 1/4 cup of water mixed in 2 Tablespoons of cornstarch. brought chicken with potatoes and broth to a boil and poured in cornstarch constantly stirring to thicken broth. Added 1 Tablespoon of yellow curry powder, salt and pepper to taste. Serve over white rice.

Hungry for Chinese Stir Fry? Take those same boiled 6 chicken tenders... chop them in pieces fry them in 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Stir fry in 1 packege of Frys frozen Kroger Stir Fry Vegetables. Add 1/4 cup soy sauce, 2 Tablespoons of honey, 1 Tablespoon brown sugar, 2 teaspoons fresh chopped garlic, 1 teaspoon powdered ginger, 1/2 teaspoon hot red peppers or Sirachi Sauce, and cup of broth. Thicken with 1 1/2 Tablespoon cornstarch and 1/4 cup water made into thick paste. Serve with rice.

Statistics show 45% of our food budget is spent on meals outside the home. So if we buy ingredients for different recipes... like curry powder, corn tortillas, a box of Betty Crocker Pie Crust, Soy Sauce, frozen Kroger Stir Fry Vegetables and keep them on hand we can turn our leftovers into something easy and delicious. And enjoy living happily below our means!

With the extra half of the pie crust maybe I'll bake an apple pie (top crust only saving $ and carbs) for dessert tomorrow. Cost of 5 granny smith apples = $1.19. No one will care or guess... as Adam Sandler sang: "Yesterdays meatloaf is todays Sloppy Joes!"

Want To Save $800 A Year?

Would you like to save $800 a year? You could IF you make one change... order tap water, yes H20 when you eat out. The average family spends $800 a year ordering drinks at restaurants.

 I order water with lemon & squeeze the lemon sprinkle in some sugar or better add a few drops of SunNector stevia ...one penny a drop= fresh lemonaide.

Emily my daughter spent $3.00 a day  on her Starbucks coffee habit.  She's an ex-barrista so I bought her a Caprisso Expresso Maker (@ the thrift store for $3.50) now before work she makes coffee and puts it in her Starbuck's mug.

Emily taught me @ Starbucks to order 1 shot of expresso (I bring in my own Starbucks plastic cup (Em bought me @ the 1/2 price after Xmas sale) with a little Hersheys syrup and ice... pour in the 1 shot of expresso, add cream & stir and I enjoy a Tall,  iced capuccino for $1.75 verses $3.00:)

My secret when I do casual dining @ restaurants like Los Compadres, Someburros, Carolinas, McDonalds or Knock Kneed Lobster (all with counter service) I put a coke in my purse or take my own Iced Tea in my pretty Starbuck's plastic glass and enjoy the savings:)

For saving at the State Fair in October I bought the cutest red and white stripped little canvas backpack and will stuff it with cold bottled waters, and Coke (saving $5.00 a pop:) Plus theres nothing like the rush of sneaking it in;)

I found a healthy alternative to soda I mix one 3oz packet of Fortune Delight http//HealthyInternetTeaHouse.blogspot.com with Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice and ice for a refreshing, hydrating, kidney supporting drink that gives me a natural lift in the afternoon!