Frugal and Energy Efficient Living

yardwork

(64,776 posts) Sat Dec 31, 2011, 08:08 PM Dec 2011

I need to spend less. [View all]

For various reasons, over the past year or so my spending has increased and is now eating into savings. I also have two kids in college, so I need to reverse this trend, and start saving every month.

I've identified several ways to save money:

1. Eat out less.
2. Drop cable TV (which I never watch) and my land line.
3. Drop Netflix (never use it).

I need to start cooking at home more and bring my lunch to work more often. These are probably standard practices for most of the people in this group, so I'm asking for help. Recipes, suggestions for cooking at home?

Thanks in advance.

43 replies

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I need to spend less. [View all] yardwork Dec 2011 OP

Crock pot. Ruby the Liberal Dec 2011 #1

Great idea! I am vegetarian but eat fish and sometimes chicken. I'll look into this. Thank you. yardwork Jan 2012 #10

We eat out too much, too. I've spent this weekend investigating Flaxbee Apr 2012 #41

depends on what you like to eat, but I do a lot of salads and was getting maddezmom Dec 2011 #2

Good suggestions, especially the part about freezing things I know I like and will eat. yardwork Jan 2012 #11

I make and freeze my own spagetti sauce by the buckets full.. Little Star Dec 2011 #3

Do you have a good recipe for spaghetti sauce? Do you use canned tomatoes? What brand? Thanks! yardwork Jan 2012 #12

Well.... Little Star Jan 2012 #21

Whole chickens are the best meat for your dollar. canoeist52 Dec 2011 #4

Absolutely. I can get three meals out of one chicken. cbayer Dec 2011 #7

That sounds fantastic! Do you put the potatoes right in the baking pan with the chicken? yardwork Jan 2012 #13

Pierce the un-peeled potatoes with a fork so they don't explode in the oven. canoeist52 Jan 2012 #26

Thanks. This sounds delicious. I sometimes cook small potatoes and carrots in pan with the chicken. yardwork Jan 2012 #28

Good Plastic Containers Viva Mar 2012 #39

i have found those containers work great, they stack and if you buy the right size, you have NMDemDist2 Jan 2012 #29

We boil the chicken with onions, carrots and celery in a large stock po - then strip it off the bone BR_Parkway Jan 2012 #27

Great ideas Irishonly Dec 2011 #5

How do you thaw and/or cook the frozen portions? yardwork Jan 2012 #14

If you have a microwave... Irishonly Jan 2012 #18

Sorry about the meat Irishonly Jan 2012 #23

I eat chicken and fish. I'm a kinda-sorta vegetarian. yardwork Jan 2012 #24

I get a lot of ideas from the cooking & baking group. cbayer Dec 2011 #6

That's my goal. Right now, I spend too much money eating out, and I don't even enjoy it. yardwork Jan 2012 #15

Like you I just go shopping for groceries. RebelOne Jan 2012 #33

I am not a vegetarian, but I find that I am eating less and less meat. cbayer Jan 2012 #34

Probably the first thing you want to do Curmudgeoness Dec 2011 #8

My mom taught me to buy at yard sales and Goodwill! She didn't teach me to cook, though. yardwork Jan 2012 #16

I've done all that, too. My suggestion, simplify your diet. freshwest Dec 2011 #9

Good advice. Simplifying is my plan. yardwork Jan 2012 #17

I've only had one summer with sufficient sun at my place to grow anything at the window. freshwest Jan 2012 #19

Agreed Sherman A1 Jan 2012 #20

Reading for entertainment can be frugal.. Little Star Jan 2012 #22

I've thought about getting a Kindle. yardwork Jan 2012 #25

farmers market. getdown Jan 2012 #30

just got an email and found some good ideas here maddezmom Jan 2012 #31

You have made a good start by identifying ways you can save money annonymous Jan 2012 #32

Hey, yardwork, how's it going? Curmudgeoness Jan 2012 #35

LOL! I made some homemade chicken soup. yardwork Jan 2012 #36

Well, don't give up. Curmudgeoness Jan 2012 #37

Thanks. My life has been a bit upside down lately. It will settle down, though. yardwork Jan 2012 #38

homemade 2 liters stevia-sweetened iced tea eShirl Mar 2012 #40

Old fashion oatmeal. safeinOhio Apr 2012 #42

Heating cedric125 Jun 2012 #43