Slice the Fat Off Your Grocery Bill

One of my most intimidating goals for this new move is to cut back on my grocery bill as much as I can without feeding our family solely on ramen noodles. I searched around the web for some tips that I found realistic and useful, and this is a list I liked from WebMD.

1. Buy produce in season. Check the food section in your newspaper to find the best buys for the week, based on fresh produce in season. Food in season is usually priced to sell. During the summer months, corn on the cob can cost as little as 10 cents an ear; at other times of the year, it may cost 10 times as much. Also, shop your local farmers' market for great deals on local produce; the prices won't include shipping costs.

If you're curious as to which season goes with which produce here's a list to help:

2. Use sales and coupons. Planning meals around what's on sale can lower your grocery bills, especially if you also use coupons (make sure they're for item you would buy anyway). Sunday newspapers are full of coupons and sales circulars to get you started. It's also a good idea to stock up on staples when they're on sale. "Buy one, get one free" is basically a technique to get you to buy twice as much as you need at half the price. At some markets, though, the product rings up half-price -- so you don't have to buy more than one to get the savings. Use your freezer to store sale items that can be used at a later date.

To be honest coupons have always intimidated me, but there are loads of websites out there to help the coupon-illiterate such as myself. Like CouponMom.com But only use coupons on items you were going to buy anyways! You can spend a lot of money buying things you never needed to have just because it was a 'good deal'. A good deal, is only a good deal if it saves you money!

3. Brown-bag it.  Making lunch and taking it with you is a great money-saver and an excellent use of leftovers for meals at work, school, or wherever your destination. "Packing your lunch not only saves you money, but you can control all the ingredients so they are healthy and low in calories," says Diekman, who is nutrition director at Washington University. Pack a simple sandwich, salad, soup, wrap, and/or a hearty snack of cheese. Use freezer packs and containers to keep food at the proper temperature unless you have access to a refrigerator.

This is something that I really believe in. I think most people have NO IDEA how much money they spend eating out. But just think about it, even if you only spend $5 a day on eating lunch out that's $25 a week and $100 a month just for YOU. If your spouse is doing the same it's double that! And let's be honest, it's never just $5. If people would just pack leftovers or something simple like a sandwich they would save SO MUCH MONEY. Plus it's so much healthier.

4. Think frozen, canned, or dried. Next time you're gathering ingredients for a recipe, try using frozen, canned, or dried foods. They may be less expensive than fresh, yet are equally nutritious. Produce is typically frozen, canned, or dried at the peak of ripeness, when nutrients are plentiful. Fish and poultry are often flash-frozen to minimize freezer damage and retain freshness. With frozen foods, you can use only the amount you need, reseal the package, and return it to the freezer. If it's properly stored, there's no waste. Canned foods are often sitting in a bath of juice, syrup, or salty water, and usually require rinsing. Dried fruits are concentrated in flavor and a great substitute for fresh fruit. Also consider using powdered or evaporated versions of milk in soups, casseroles, mashed potatoes, or desserts. Buy the form that gives you the best price for your needs.

This can save you money for sure, but make sure you check labels!

5. Save on protein foods. When possible, substitute inexpensive, vegetarian sources such as beans, eggs, tofu, and legumes for more expensive meat, fish, or poultry. Eat vegetarian once a week or more to increase your consumption of healthy plant foods while saving money.  Eggs are an excellent, inexpensive source of protein that can be eaten for breakfast, lunch or dinner. You could also try using a smaller portion of meat, fish, or poultry and extending the dish with whole grains, beans, eggs, and/or vegetables.
When you do buy meat, choose smaller portions of lean cuts. For example, lean cuts of beef are those that include the terms "loin" or "round." (You can tenderize lean cuts of meat mechanically or by marinating it.) You can also buy a whole chicken and cut it up instead of paying the butcher to do it for you, or buy the cheaper "family pack" and portion it into airtight freezer bags.

Money saver, and healthier!

6. Waste not, want not. Before you toss perishable food into your grocery cart, think about exactly how you'll use it. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that Americans generate roughly 30 million tons of food waste each year. Using leftover vegetables, poultry, or meat in soups, stews, salads, and casseroles minimizes cost and demonstrates your creativity in the kitchen. For example, have a roasted chicken for dinner one night, and use the leftovers for dinner the next night. Try topping a bed of fresh greens with vegetables, fruits, and slices of leftover chicken. Add a loaf of whole-grain bread, and presto! You've got a nutritious meal in minutes. You can also eat leftovers for breakfast or take them with you for lunch.

I can't tell you how many tomatoes and strawberries I've wasted because I didn't use them in time. I always think I'm going to save them for something special because they're more expensive, but usually that just means they go bad.

7. Go generic. Consider buying store brands instead of pricier national brands. "All food manufacturers follow standards to provide safe food and beverage products of high quality," says Earl. Many grocery companies buy national-brand products made to their specifications and simply put their own label on the products. Read the ingredient list on the label to be sure you're getting the most for your money. Ingredients are listed in order by weight. So when you're buying canned tomatoes, look for a product that lists tomatoes, not water, as the first ingredient. Also look for simpler versions of your favorite foods. For example, buy oatmeal or simple flaked or puffed cereals that contain fewer additives and are less expensive (and often healthier) than fancier cereals.

For most things going generic does not mean losing taste or quality. Most of the time you're paying for packaging or characters. There are only a few items that I wont buy generic like mac n'cheese for the kids!

8. Buy prepackaged only if you need it. Unless you have a coupon or the item is on sale, buying prepackaged, sliced, or washed products comes with a higher price tag. Still, people living alone may find that smaller sizes of perishable products or bags of prepared produce eliminate waste and fit their needs best, despite the extra cost.  You can also save money (and boost nutrition) by passing up the aisles with processed foods, cookies, snack foods and soda.

I'll admit that I love having some 'emergency meals' on hand for those nights that I'm just feeling lazy. My crowd pleaser in a pinch is Stoffers Chicken Alfredo Pasta, even my kids will eat it with a smile! But other than that I try not to get to many things where I'm paying for preparation rather than the food.

9. Buy and cook in bulk. Joining a bulk shopping club, like Sam's, Costco, or BJ's, can be cost-effective if you frequent the club regularly. Bulk purchases can be a great way to save money -- as long as they get used. You might also look in your community for shopping cooperatives that sell food in bulk at a substantial savings. Cooking in bulk can save both money and time, says Tallmadge. "Prepare food in bulk and freeze into family-sized portions, which saves time in the kitchen," she suggests. For example, making a big batch of tomato sauce will less expensive (and probably tastier) than buying some.

I love my Costco Membership, and if you do their 'executive membership' you can actually get a check in the mail once a year for extra savings! Although you do need to be careful about the items you're buying in bulk, because just because they give you more doesn't mean you're saving more. Especially if most of it goes bad.

10. Plant a garden. For benefits that go beyond cost savings, plant your own produce. There's nothing better than a summer-fresh tomato from the garden. Tomatoes even grow well in containers if you don't have space for a garden, and some neighborhoods offer community gardening spaces. Start small, and see how easy it is to grow fresh herbs or a few simple vegetables. And if you invest a little time in freezing or canning your harvest, you can enjoy summer's bounty all year long.

Just thinking about growing a garden is one of those things that makes me feel like I'm covered in dirt and bugs and pulling weeds for hours! Being in Las Vegas, and in a rental makes it a little difficult to do the plant a garden thing anyways, but you can always do those topsy-turvy planters that grow tomatoes and strawberries! Less scary, and more manageable!

And, of course, MEAL PLANNING can save you time and money, and did I mention money? DO IT!!

If anyone has any other tips for me on how I can cut my grocery cost please share!!!!!

If Only Money Grew On Trees: 9 Sm. Financial Steps That Pay Off Big

This is the time of year where I feel like everyone is praying extra hard. Why do I say this? Because it's tax season. I know I said a couple of extra prayers that we'd get some money back! Well I found this great article on Oprah.com from Suze Orman that gives some great steps for putting yourself in a better financial position.

Huge, scary numbers are lurking everywhere these days: The massive federal bailout (now on the taxpayers' tab)…the unemployment rate, which is now at a 26-year high…that daunting sum you are constantly told you will need if you want to retire comfortably…the six-figure mortgage balance you barely chip away at each month.

Listen to me: Stop focusing on the big picture. Given what is going on in the world right now, you'll only fuel your fear and anxiety.

Macroeconomics matter, but your security depends far more on microfinance—the small choices you make with your money. Every financial worry you want to banish and financial dream you want to achieve comes from taking tiny steps today that put you on a path toward your goals. My list of small moves that yield big dividends:

1. Save a Bit at a Time
I get so frustrated when people tell me it's unrealistic to create an eight-month emergency savings fund, or have money saved for a home down payment, or pay off their $5,000 credit card balance. I am not suggesting that you can snap your fingers and have everything taken care of. What I'm telling you is to move toward your goals in steps. Rather than get lost in the big picture—"Eight months? Are you crazy, Suze? I can never do that!"—focus on what is within your power: the sums you can sock away every week or month to get closer to what you're trying to achieve. Put $50 a week into a bank savings account earning 2 percent interest, and in three years you will have saved more than $8,000.

It's very intimidating to try and take it all in at once, and it feels like you'll never be free. Who knew that $50 dollars could turn into $8000 in 3 years?!?! Not me!

2. Have a Little Self-Discipline!
Okay, so where do you find the money to put toward your financial goals? If you're dealing with a layoff or furlough, I know you feel stretched to the limit. But often when families tell me they have no money for their goals, I look at their spending and find lots of "wants" to cut. So pull out your three most recent bank and credit card statements, circle every charge or debit that is not a necessity, and ask yourself, "Can I eliminate this cost entirely?" If not, can you scale it back 30 to 50 percent (downgrade the cable, say, or opt for the less-pricey cell package)? Every time you cut expenses, you can put the money toward bigger goals.

This is one Tad and I have done. We switched out our cable TV for Netflix, and even moved to a cheaper apartment. I gotta say I didn't regret a single decision. The lightening of our load was WELL worth it.

3. Automate
So many financial dreams are thwarted by the failure to act upon good intentions. Even if you commit to step 2 and free up money, using it wisely can be a challenge. Complete this sentence: I had every intention of ___________, but I got sidetracked or couldn't stick with my plan. That blank could be: (a) building an eight-month emergency fund; (b) investing in Roth IRA ; (c) saving for a home down payment; (d) paying every bill on time; (e) all of the above.

The solution is easy: Put your financial life on autopilot as a form of "forced" saving. Your 401(k) is a great example of auto-investing; with every paycheck, money goes into your retirement account. You can set up the same system at a discount brokerage or fund company to help you invest in an IRA, authorizing the firm to pull money out of your bank account weekly, monthly, or quarterly.

Autopilot is also a great way to save for a home down payment. Have $100 automatically transferred from your checking account to a bank savings account each month and in five years at 2 percent interest you could have more than $6,300 set aside. An FHA-insured mortgage requires a 3.5 percent down payment, so $6,300 would be enough to buy a $180,000 home.

And if you suffer from late-payment-itis, set up auto bill pay through an online bank account. This will save you those $39 late fees on credit card payments and lift your FICO score (on-time payment history accounts for 35 percent of your score).

I HAVE to do this to make sure I don't forget things. I have chronic-forgetfulness and I seem to never remember little details like paying the bills. We also have auto-saving accounts. It's been a real help because you almost forget about it, but when you're in a jam and need some extra cash there's a small hoard there to help!

4. Max Out on the Company Match
In a 2008 survey of nearly a million 401(k) participants, the investment advisory firm Financial Engines found that 33 percent don't contribute enough to their company plan to collect the maximum employer matching contribution. That's literally turning down free money. The way a match works is that if you contribute to your retirement account, your employer will throw in some money, too. One common system is for an employer to give 50 cents for every dollar the employee contributes to her 401(k), up to a specified limit, such as 6 percent of a salary or a certain dollar amount per year. Under those terms, if the employee contributed $3,000, the employer would kick in another $1,500. Hello! That's a guaranteed 50 percent return on your investment. And $3,000 spread out over 26 pay periods is only $115 every two weeks. That's a small step toward a big goal.

If your company doesn't provide a match—or has opted to suspend its match during the recession—you may still qualify for a Roth IRA. I recommend funding the IRA completely before you contribute to an unmatched 401(k). Without the match, a 401(k) is still a good deal, but a Roth IRA is even better. Details follow in the next small step.

Since Tad is only part time we don't qualify for any 'matching' but I have this on my to-do list when Tad starts his career this fall.

5. Invest in a Roth IRA
I love the Roth IRA. Tax-free income in retirement is a truly great deal. That's because income tax rates are likely to rise given all the big federal deficits that will need to be repaid. (And remember: Withdrawals from a traditional IRA or 401(k) will be taxed at your ordinary income tax rate.) If you have modified adjusted gross income (AGI) below $105,000 this year ($166,000 for married couples filing a joint return), you can invest the maximum $5,000 in an IRA (or $6,000 if you are 50 or older). Above those income limits, you can make smaller contributions; you lose eligibility if you have a modified AGI of $120,000 or more, or are part of a married couple with a modified AGI of $176,000 or above.

I know $5,000 or $6,000 is a big deal. And I promised small steps. So break that $5,000 into 12 monthly chunks. Does $416 sound more doable? If it's still too much, save what you can. No rule says it has to be $5,000. You can invest as little as $600 a year at some fund companies through an auto-investing plan, or save until you meet the $1,000 to $1,500 minimum initial investment most mutual funds require.

We have a Roth IRA and every once in a while we like to check the balance and feel a little more secure.

6. Subtract Your Age from 100; Put That Much in Stocks
Now we need to talk about asset allocation. For all your long-term investments, such as retirement accounts that you won't touch for at least ten years, you need a mix of stocks and bonds. Stocks offer the best shot at inflation-beating gains. But stocks don't always go up. That's where bonds come into play: They have less upside potential, but they also do not pack the same risk. So what's your Midas mix of stocks and bonds? Subtract your age from 100 and invest that percentage of your retirement savings in stocks. The rest belongs in bonds. For the stock portion, put 70 percent in U.S. stocks and the rest in international funds. As for the bonds: You should definitely have some lower-risk investments in your 401(k), but rather than invest in a bond fund, look for a GIC or Stable Value fund, which offers a guaranteed return. For your IRA accounts, I am all for owning individual bonds you can hold to maturity instead of bond funds, which are subject to trading and carry more risk.

So I think I've watched too many movies about people loosing everything they had in stocks, because they scare me to death! But Tad (my personal accountant) keeps telling me we will be investing in stocks as soon as he starts his real job. So wish us luck!

7. Spend $50 a Month for Peace of Mind
That's about what it would cost a healthy 40-year-old woman to buy a million-dollar 20-year level term life insurance policy; figure on less if you're younger and more if you're older. But the idea is this: A small amount of money buys your family protection if you die prematurely. You can shop for term policies at SelectQuote.com and AccuQuote.com .

We got our life insurance when we still owned our house so I always feel super secure in that area because whoever got left behind would have extra money to take care of everyone.

8. Create the Four Most Loving Documents in Existence
One of the most tragic disconnects I see is when someone tells me she loves her family to pieces but hasn't set up these four must-have documents: a revocable living trust, a will, a durable power of attorney for finances, and a durable power of attorney for healthcare.

I'm a little embarrassed to admit we don't have a single one of these documents. We've talked about them, but we've never actually made them. Well they are now on my GET DONE THIS MONTH list!

9. Add a 13th Mortgage Payment; Pay Off Your Loan Five Years Faster
If you're in your 50s and plan to live in your current home forever, try to pay off the mortgage before you stop working so you remove that big cost from your postretirement expenses. One way to do so is to make one extra mortgage payment a year. You can even spread the payment over 12 months. Let's say you have a $1,500 monthly mortgage payment and a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage. If you divide $1,500 by 12, that's $125, so instead of paying $1,500, you send in $1,625 each month. That will cut your repayment time by five years and reduce your interest payments over the life of the loan; for a $250,000 mortgage charging 6 percent, you will save $61,000 ($228,000 in interest payments versus $289,000). That $125 a month may be tough, but it's doable. It's one small step now, and one giant leap toward future financial security.

This is such a great idea. I didn't know that one extra payment would get me out of 5 years of interest! Next time I buy a house I am SO doing this.

I hope this article gives you at least ONE good idea to try! I know I got several )

What Can $68 Get You?

What can you buy for $68????

You can get this cute jacket from the GAP. Yes it's super cute, but what could you get from a discount store I wonder?.......

THIS!!!
















I went to DI (Deseret Industries) and I got 8 shirts, 5 pairs of pants, and 3 pairs of shoes for $68! I did have to spend a couple of hours trying on A LOT of clothes, but I ended up some really great stuff! So before you take your next wad of cash to the mall stop and think about what you could get for your money at a thrift shop!

10 Ways to Save Money at Christmas

If there's one thing I need help with this time of year it's keeping to my budget! Tad & I keep an envelope that we slip money into throughout the year whenever we have a spare $20 and use that for birthdays and holidays. It works well for most holidays, but at Christmas it's so easy to go overboard. I found this article on The Adventerous Writer by Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen. It's full of great tips!

These ways to save money at Christmas will reduce holiday stress. Use these holiday gift shopping tips to make your loved ones happy without spending a lot of money. Don’t let expensive Christmas presents set you back thousands of dollars – that’s bad for your budget goals and your health.

Before the money saving tips, a quip:

“Money, if it does not bring you happiness, will at least help you be miserable in comfort,” said Helen Gurley Brown.

These ways to save money at Christmas will help you be comfortable all year round. One of these holiday shopping tips involves making holiday gifts for your loved ones (instead of buying expensive presents). For more info, check out the Holiday Gift Workshop Kit.

And, here are ten ways to save money at Christmas….

10 Ways to Save Money at Christmas – Holiday Gift Shopping Tips

1. Visualize your perfect Christmas holiday. For some people, Christmas isn’t Christmas without piles of gifts. But for most people, the holidays really are about family, friends, fun and peace. Vistualize how you can bring those values into your holiday celebrations. Then, stand by your goals. Inform “gift-grubbing” friends or family that you want to make the holidays more meaningful this year, and explain you’re finding ways to share experiences, rather than giving expensive gifts. Limit gifts to one per person. By setting expectations early, you can avoid holiday disappointment.

2. Plan and budget for Christmas spending first. Much holiday stress is caused by finances and lack of planning. Before the mall’s holiday tunes jingle your willpower away, think practically about holiday spending. And to save money at Christmas, plan for holiday season spending early. Remember to include:

• Everyone you’ll give a gift to and how much you plan to spend.
• Cards and postage.
• Decorations.
• Entertaining, including food, drink, special garments, child care, etc.
• Year-end tips for newspaper carriers, babysitters, housecleaners, doormen, hairdressers and other service providers.
• Gifts for coworkers, teachers, doctors, neighbors or others close to your family.
• Travel costs.

To save money, just buy what you need. Don’t go Christmas shopping until you look at your bills, your checkbook, and your savings balance — and, if you have a spouse, until you talk about money as a couple. How to Spend Less at Christmas – Money Tips for Couples will help with those discussions!

2. Take inventory before holiday gift shopping. A painless tip is to scour your closets, under your bed or anywhere you might have stashed your clever, early purchases. Think back: Did you stock up on Grandpa’s argyle socks at last year’s post-holiday sales? Check before buying more pairs.

3. Start Christmas shopping online — early. Avoid the stress of malls altogether, skip the temptation of store displays, and steer clear of the hassle of fighting over holiday gifts. Research the best Christmas gifts early (read Romantic Holiday Gift Ideas), and look for free shipping deals.

4. Time your holiday gift shopping right. If you really need to go to a mall, avoid the busiest times to avoid stress. If possible, go early in the day when stores open or late on a weeknight. Take advantage of many stores’ extended hours during the holiday season. Monday night at 9 p.m. can be very quiet, even in mid-December.

5. Delegate the holiday gift shopping tasks. An effective way to save money at Christmas is to decide who in your family or group of friends will shop for each recipient. This can help ensure you get to priority sales and stores, and that nobody doubles up.

6. Build a snowman instead of spending money on holiday activities. Have a kids’ afternoon that will wear little bodies out (a gift to parents, too!) and provide fun memories. A Christmas money saving tip is to make a snowman, a snow fort, have a snowball fight or go sledding (instead of spending money). Live in a warm-weather climate? Try a trip to the beach or a nearby hike. If your child gets overexcited over the holiday season, read How to Reduce Stress at Christmas for Kids.

7. Have a Christmas card signing party. In lieu of gifts to friends, an easy way to save money at Christmas is to prepare holiday cards together. Ask each attendee to bring cookies or an appetizer. You provide drinks, tables to write on, and plenty of pens. The fun will provide more memories than a gift and incur no stress, and is good way to brainstorm gift ideas!

8. Give the Christmas gifts you can afford. Don’t give what your mother believes she deserves, a gift equal to what your sister-in-law gave you last year, or whatever unrealistic measure might be luring you toward overspending. Consider making a homemade gift — such as a Christmas Tree stocking.

9. Give the gift of time. Think of activities you can do all through the holiday season, rather than just purchasing a gift. The gift of time and caring can mean much more than a present – for both giver and recipient. Shovel snow for an elderly neighbor, or get a group together to surprise neighbors with an old-fashioned caroling party.

10. Get creative with homemade holiday gift coupons. Another Christmas money saving tip is to get into the at-home “gift card” tradition with homemade coupons. Kids can give parents coupons for prized commodities like “No whining” or “No begging.” Parents can offer up unexpected treats kids love, like “Make cookies together,” “Get out of one punishment free” or “Choose candy for movie night.” Or, buy an Amazon.com Gift Card – it’s one of my favorite Christmas gift ideas!

So remember that a Merry Christmas doesn't have to equal an empty wallet!

Candice's Money Saving Tips

It always comes back to money, or cash money as Tad would say. There never quite seems to be enough for everything we want to do. I'm not even close to a master saver (although since Tad almost has a masters in accounting I'm hoping he'll do better than me) so I'm always on the lookout for good tips! Here are some of the things Tad and I have been doing:

CHILDCARE It can be so expensive to hire nannies and babysitters. My favorite fix is just to trade off with other moms. Find someone with kids in age close to yours and offer a swap. Most likely she'll jump at the chance. Truth be told my kids are easier to handle when there's another kid there to distract them from me! It's a great, guilt free way to have a night out.

DISCOUNT STORES
I love discount stores like Ross and family dollar. Ross is great for household items (dishes, picture frames, decorations, towels, bathroom toiletries, and tons more), small furniture (chairs, ottomans, tables, small dressers, etc.), clothes (of every age and gender, I especially love to get cheap but cute and sexy lingerie here), toys for kids of all ages, kids room decor, shoes, purses, perfumes and lotions, so many other great things!
Family Dollar has some of the best deals! They sell basics in food (milk, ravioli, cookies, rice...), baby care (diapers, wipes, medicine...), and things like shampoo, lotion, paper plates, aluminum foil. They also have greeting cards, home decor (clocks, cute signs...), lawn care items (soil, weed killer...), tupperware, trash cans, and a ton more. Some of my favorite things to get from here is big toys. They often have great deals on children sized tables and chairs, kid size play kitchens (normally kitchens like this cost around $100, but we got one for Wes for $20 here. Granted we had to put it together ourselves, but it was worth it!), even 4-wheelers big enough for kids to ride. Family Dollar is the best place to look if you're trying to find a big present for a kid. They rarely cost over $25. PS- Craft Stores like Michael and Roberts always have great dollar bins that are full of great stuff like pads of grocery list that have a magnet to hang on the fridge, recipe boxes, markers, signs, kid crafts....Second-hand stores like DI, Good Will, and Salvation Army are full of hidden treasures. You can often find great clothes for young and old, electronics, shoes, fabric, dishes.... My favorite DI finds are books and furniture. They've always got a great supply of used desks, stools, tables, dressers, bed frames, pretty much anything you might look for. The great and hard thing about second hand stores is that their stock is constantly changing. So if you're in the market for something specific check back often, but when you find it don't hesitate long because things at these prices don't last long. Chances are what you're looking for will turn up sooner of later! Not to mention the great stuff people sell for a steal at yard sales! This weekend I found a recipe book full of '4 ingredient recipes' for $3, and for the same price Wes found a Scarlett sized Curious George stuffed animal! Check out your local newspaper classifieds, craigslist, or just go cruising around town to spot yard sale signs.

GROCERIES
For grocery shopping everyone knows there are great coupons out there. Sadly, I don't have much patience for them. As an alternative I'd suggest 3 things. 1- If you're in a position to qualify for programs like WIC (program for pregnant Women, Infants, and Children) take advantage of it! They are great programs that not only give your wallet a break on your grocery bill, they keep track of your kids health and give you access to information and resources for every stage your kids grow into. 2- Have you heard of Bountiful Baskets? If not it's a great community program that allows you to get a basket full of fresh fruits and vegetables every 2 weeks or so. Everyone I know who gets one loves it! Although there are a couple of draw backs. They've very large so sometimes it's hard to eat it all before it goes bad, and you don't get to pick what kind of produce goes in the basket so sometimes you end up with weird things, or things you don't like. I would suggest either splitting the basket with another family. Or you could talk to some local produce suppliers and start your own basket if you can get a big enough group together. That way you'd have more control over what you get and how much. 3- You can always check out farmers markets and local produce stands. They usually have quality products, plus you are supporting your local economy!

TV, INTERNET, & PHONE
Tad and I also tried to find every way to cut monthly budget. For instance we use Netflix and Hulu instead of having cable/satellite TV. Hulu is free if you just want to watch current TV episodes, although they do have a HuluPlus that is a lot more like Netflix Instant Play. I love the instant play feature on Netflix, it's so convenient, especially for people with kids. That way I can watch the show when I have time to watch it without little voices in my ears and little fingers pulling on my leg. The only sacrifice on that is Tad's sports channels (he makes due with ESPN.com but I know he misses it). If you do have Satellite TV I know DirecTV, Verizon, and Qwest all work together to give you a break. If you use those 3 (or are free to switch) I believe you can get a discount for each service just because you use all 3 of them. Check it out!

INSURANCE
We also make sure we keep in close contact with our insurance providers to take advantage of any discounts they offer. We found out that we got a discount on our car insurance if we got renters insurance too(which aside from being smart to have is insanely cheap. I think it averaged to be like $11/month). The discount was so good we ended up paying less with both car and renters insurance than we did with just car insurance. We use Sorensen Insurance that is based out of Heber City, UT. They handle and keep track of all of our insurances (car, rental, you name it) They are so great, I recommend them for sure!

TRANSPORTATION
Tad and I also decided to sell one of our 2 cars. We realized that we didn't really need them both, and that it would save us a ton of money. Between upkeep like oil changes, and yearly fees like registration, not to mention the cost of gasing up 2 cars it really adds up! We are fortunate enough to live within walking distance to Tad's work and school so we rarely have a problem sharing. I realize for most people this isn't the case. However if you have a bus/subway/trax/or train system near you should look into it. I would wager it's cheaper to buy a pass than it is to keep a second car. Plus you don't have to pay for things like parking passes. In the fall Tad will need to travel an hour 2 days a week to commute to his new school, but he's going to carpool for a group of other accounting students who will be doing the same thing. That way he'll only have to drive once a month.

HOUSING
This one is a little extreme, but we're so glad we did it. In order to be within walking distance of work and school we had to move. We were able to cut our rent by $100 by moving from a 3 bedroom house to a 3 bedroom apartment closer to campus. It is quite a bit smaller, and we had to well some of our larger furniture to make it work. Though we more than covered our moving expenses with our craigslist sales. I realize that this is not in the realm of possibility for everyone, but it saved us a ton. Utilities alone are 2/3 cheaper in an apartment, plus there are maintenance men working regularly who come and fix any issues we might have instead of trying to get your landlord to take time out of their schedule to come take a look at it.

TREAT YOURSELF SOMEWHERE
That's all of the tricks I can think of right now, but I'm sure there are a ton more. We basically try not to spend money on things we don't need. Although I think everyone should have SOMETHING they get to do for fun. For Tad and I it's movies. We love going to dinner and a movie, and I think it'd take some drastic circumstances to get us to stop doing that at least once a month! So make sure you're not depriving yourself of EVERYTHING! But keep your wallet in check from BUYING yourself everything.

PS- We did make a point of setting up life insurance, a mutual fun, and a Roth IRA. They are automatically paid each month and we don't really think about them much. But when we're in a jam and need some extra cash there's always a little to be found.

If anyone has a tip for me please share!